MATTHEW setteth forth in the first chap­ter the kinred and pa­rentage of Christ the Lord, The first chapter. From the first verse vnto the 18. shewing of whō he was descēded true man after the flesh & according to the oracles of the Pro­phetes. From the 18. verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. Vnto the declaration of his stocke he ioyneth his concepcion and na­tiuitie, prouing that Christ the Lord was purely conceiued of the holy Ghost, and not of the seede of Ioseph, and borne of the pure Virgine Marie. The second chapter. The sūme of the whole chap­ter. Then hee sheweth that this Christ was borne for the Iewes and the Gentiles: and that the Iewes care not much for Christ, but the Gentiles diligently seeke him, finde him, and worshippe him. From the 1. verse to the 3. For God, to declare by some famous appearaunce and notable shewe this mystery of salua­tion giuen to the worlde, immediately af­ter [Page] the incarnation of the Lorde stirreth vp Easterne men, euen the The great learned and wise men amōg the Persians were called Magi. Magies, that is to saye chiefe and wise men, who iourneying from the East by the prouocation of a starre, come to Hieru­salem to seeks the king and redeemer of the worlde, where when as by their plaine reporte it was made know­en, that the Messias the king of Isra­el was borne, In the 3. ver. king Herode beeyng a­fraide In the 4. ver. calleth together all the wise men of the Iewes, and commaundeth them to searche diligentlye the oracles of the Prophetes touching the birth and coun­trie of the Messias. From the giver. vnto y ^e 8. They aunswere foorthwith that the captayne of Israel shoulde be borne in Bethlehem a citie of Iurie. From the 8. ver. vnto the 11 Therefore the wise men take their iourney to Bethlehem, In the 11. ve. where they finde the Lorde his Masshiah in Hebrue, is as much to say as Annoynted in English. Messias very poore and of small reputation, yet, doe they re­uerētly worship him, & honour him with mysticall presentes, and witnesse by this their deede, first that this child, although he seeme to be of contemptible conditiō, is the Lorde of all men, and the king and [Page] deliuerer both of the Iewes & Gentiles: secondly that the same ought to bee woor­shipped and honoured of all men. From the 16. ver. vnto the 19 The meane season that olde serpent the De­uill practiseth his ancient artes. For hee stirreth vp Herode the king of the Iewes, to destroye Christ the true king of Israel in the beginning of his grouth. There­fore the cruell and ambitious tyrant through crueltie not hearde of before fil­leth the coastes of Bethlehem with the most innocent blood of infantes, if by chaunce in this slaughter of infantes, bee­yng two yeeres olde or vnder, hee might destroye the king of Israel also: From the 12. ver. vnto the 16 but this abhominable and wicked hope decei­ued that moste vile and filthye wretche. For the Lord is conueyed by the counsell of the Angell of the Lorde into Egypt, From the 19 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. where hee laye hidde vntill the ven­geance of GOD had destroyed that wicked murtherer. The mysticall sense of the 2. Chapter. whiche thinges were forewarning tokens of the king­dome of Christ, and of the affaires to come of the Church, wherin Christ y ^e only saluation, the appoynted king ouer [Page] all the worlde, is alway assaulted of the wicked, and yet doeth hee the meane while woorke the saluation of the fayth­full, and by suffering continually ob­teineth the victorie: and yet so, that the Godlye notwithstanding are exercised with continuall temptations and af­flictions to their owne profite and glo­rye. A briefe argu­mēt of the third and fourth chap­ter. The third and fourth Chapter sette forth vnto thee, reader, a clearer and plai­ner manifestation of our Lorde Iesus Christe the Sauiour of the worlde. For the Father doth not now shew his Sonne to a fewe and to certayne chosen for the purpose, or by one or two reuela­tions, as hetherto wee sawe hee did: but made him knowen to all the worlde, and that by innumerable and moste euident demonstrations and proofes, and proposed him to bee be­holden most manifestlye with all his trea­sures. The 3. chap. From the first verse vnto the thirtienth. For first hee calleth foorth Iohn the sonne of Zacharie the priest, the verye Helias promised in the Pro­phetes, a man of most holye life, and of verye greate authoritie emong the peo­ple [Page] of the Iewes, and maketh him his messenger to preache the comming of his sonne into the fleshe, and too pre­pare the mindes of all men, that they might bee the more readye to receiue Christ, when hee came. Therefore this Helias (Iohn the Baptist) com­meth forth, and exhorteth all men to repentaunce, and to prepare them­selues for the Lord against his comming. In the 2. chap. For he addeth expressely, that the king­dome of heauen is at hande, What is meāt by the kingdome of heauen. that is to saye, that that time approched, yea was present, wherein GOD by his Prophetes had promised, that hee woulde powre foorth by his Sonne all the treasures of his grace and giftes vppon men, and that hee woulde raigne in them. In the 6. ver. Vnto this doctrine hee addeth the famous and holy Sacrament of Bap­tisme, whereby hee might represent e­uen visibly the mysteries of GOD, to the woorshippers of GOD, and gea­ther together into one bodye the faithfull people, and graffe them into Christ. In the verse. And then the heauenly father calleth forth [Page] also his own sonne forth of Galilee, where he lay hidde hitherto, into Iurie, that, be­cause the mindes of the common people seemed now sufficiently prepared by the baptist to receiue Christ, he himself might come foorth in open view now, declaring & shewing himself to the world no longer by the testimonie of others, but by his own doctrine, and by his owne vertues. There­fore the Lorde commeth into Iurie vnto Iordane, where Iohn taught and baptised into Christe, and hee also is baptised of Iohn.

In the 14. & 15. verse.Moreouer the Baptist acknowled­geth forthwith the Sauiour of the world, and therefore witnesseth in most manifest woordes, that this verie selfe same is the Sonne of GOD, the lambe of GOD, whiche shoulde take awaye the sinnes of the worlde, of whom hitherto hee spake, for whom hee commaunded all men to wayte, and now repeating the very selfe same thing feruently, he sendeth all men to Christ onely. In the 16. ve. Furthermore y ^e heauēly father addeth hereunto from hea­uen his honourable and strange witnesse. [Page] For after that the heauens were opened, and the holy Ghost was lighted vppon the head of Christe in the visible likenesse of an heauenly doue, hee saieth, as it were poynting foorth his finger toward Christ, In the 17. ve. and also adding thereunto a most cleere voyce, This is my dearelie beloued Sōne, yea and so thorowly beloued, that for his sake onely, I am nowe thorowly pleased and reconciled to the worlde, wherewith for their sinnes I was moste greeuously offended. The 4. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto y ^e 12. And hee, after so excellent a testimonie did not foorthwith preache him selfe, and sette foorth himselfe to bee beholden and inioyed of all men, but entering into the barries, or wreastling place of most strong temptations, where­in Adam fighting vnhappely was subdu­ed, hee nowe the second Adam, con­tending more happelye, both conque­reth Satan the cōquerour, and taught vs also to conquere him being conquered: From the 12 ver. vnto y ^e 18. and nowe beyng conquerour, commeth foorth at the last with greate authoritye, as the Lorde of the Deuill, and [Page] of all thinges, and promiseth his woor­shippers life, and euerye good thing, yea and the kingdome of heauen also, preaching the grace of GOD, and the forgiuenesse of sinnes, and exhor­ting all men to the amendement of lyfe.

From the 18. verse vnto the 23.Furthermore that wee might vnder­stande, that this promising of life, and preaching of grace doeth not onelye pertayne to the men of that age, but also vnto all men, whiche shoulde come after, euen to the ende of the world, hee chooseth to him selfe Disciples, whom hee might appoynt witnesses in the worlde of all thinges, which he spake and did, and whom hee might thorowely teache the mysterye of lyfe, that they beeyng perfectlye instructed, might commende bothe by liuely voyce and by writinges liuing for euer, the treasures of the grace of God, bestow­ed through Christe vppon all the worlde and in all ages, and that they might as it were distribute the same. From the 23. verse to the end of the chapter. He addeth heereunto notable and greate benefites, in curing by his vertue and [Page] power all diseases, although vncura­ble. The vse of the Miracles of Christ. For so doeth hee declare vnto vs all, not onelye in woordes, but also euen by his vertue and power, that hee is euen suche, as his doctrine setteth him foorth, that is to say, the Sauiour of the worlde, whiche both is willing and able to saue them whiche woorshippe him: and therefore they also ought to committe themselues by fayth to him onelye. A briefe remē ­brance of the contentes of these two chapters before going. These bee the holye and wholesome documentes, whiche thou learnest in these two chap­ters, so that the verye maiestie and pro­fite of so greate a matter may cause thee to bee studious and diligent, except thou bee altogether a stocke. A briefe repe­tition of the fourth chapter. Emong other thinges, whiche Matthewe hath sette foorth vnto vs in this fourth chapter before goyng hee hath gi­uen vs a certaine taste of the sermons of the doctrine of Christe touching repen­taunce, and forgiuenesse of sinnes, that is to saye, of the mysterye of the Gospell and grace of GOD, I meane of the ac­knowledging and confessing of our [Page] sinnes, and of the turning from our sinnes to the liuing GOD, through the faith of Iesus Christ, whereby wee ob­tayne remission of our sinnes and euerla­sting life, so many of vs as beleeue with all our heartes: A briefe argu­ment of the 5.6 and 7. chapters. nowe the same Au­thour Matthewe goeth forwarde and expoūdeth in the three chapters folowing other chiefe places also of the doctrine of Christ, not vsing now his accustomed briefenesse, that is to say, regestring on­ly the summe of the Lorde his talke, but setting foorth at large, Christe his whole sermon, euen as it was made by himselfe, that wee might thereby iudge more certainely and rightly of all the doc­trine of Christ, and that after repentance and remission of sinnes, beeing two chiefe pointes of our religion, wee might also more fully vnderstande other verye excellent places of Christian religion. The qualitie of Christ his Sermon. The oration or sermon of Christe is spent in teaching and expounding, and in some places also in giuing of preceptes, beeyng therefore diuers and made of di­uers matters. The 5 chap. From the 1. ver. vnto y ^e 17. For first hee dispu­teth [Page] plainely of the true blessednesse or happinesse, shewing in what thinges it doth consist, and in the meane season priui­ly confuting the foolishe and corrupt o­pinions of the common people touching the true felicitie. From the 17. ver. vnto the end of the chapter. Then hee com­meth to purge the lawe. For the Phari­sees had corrupted it with their traditi­ons, and made it obscure with their false expositions. Therefore hee sheweth manifestly by certayne examples taken foorth of the lawe, whiche is the natu­rall sense of the lawe, and what the lawe of GOD requireth of vs, setting foorth with all the difference of true and counterfaite righteousnesse. The 6. chap. A briefe ar­gument of y ^e first part of the 6. chap. From y ^e 1. ver. vnto the 19 And because hee reasoned of righteousnesse, and emonge all the woorkes of righte­ousnesse the moste excellent are almes, or mercifulnesse, or bountifulnesse, also prayer or a feruent talking with God, and fasting, or the chastising of the bodye, and of our fleshe, therefore our Lorde pur­geth these woorkes of righteousnesse, or exercises of godlinesse, from hypo­crisie, wherewith the Pharisees had polluted them, restoring them to [Page] their auncient and naturall beautie, From the first verse vnto y ^e 5. and shewing moste woorthily howe wee shoulde geue our almes aright, From the 5. verse vnto the 16. howe wee shoulde praye truelye, From the 16. verse vnto y ^e 19 and howe wee shoulde fast religiously. A briefe rea­son of the trea­tise against co­uetousnes in the end of the chap­ter. Here­vppon forsomuche as it is moste mani­fest, that none other affection doeth so greatelye withdrawe vs from all god­linesse and righteousnesse, as the desire of hauing, and the ouermuche curious carefulnesse for meate, drynke, and cloth, and other thinges needefull. From the 19 verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. Therefore in the fourth place hee dis­swadeth vs by his graue speache from couetousnesse, and plucketh vp aptlye ouermuche carefulnesse, that is to saie, wicked mistrust, foorth of the heartes of his seruauntes, and ingraffeth a­gayne fayth towardes GOD, and a faithfull desire of religion and righte­ousnesse. The seuēth chapter. From the 1. verse vnto the 7. Afterwardes signifiyng with greate faithfulnesse and diligence, that the rashe iudgement of men touching other men, I meane backebyting and sclaundering, ought to bee auoyded, he teacheth vs to vse our tongue moderate­ly [Page] and rightly. For there springeth no lesse troubles foorth of the abuse of the tongue, than foorth of couetousnesse and the desire of hauing. From the 7 verse vnto the 12. Moreouer be­cause all these thinges are made perfect in vs by diuine vertue through the benefite of grace, not through our owne strength, therefore the Lorde doeth exhorte, profita­bly and in place, his worshippers to faith­full prayers, whereby they maye craue, that strength may be giuen them of God, least at any time they faint in doing their dutie. Besides this he maketh most cleare and most large promises, promising that hee will heare the prayers of the faithfull, y ^e therby he may the more kindle & inflame in y ^e godly the desire to pray. In the 12. verse. And draw­ing into a briefe summe all these thinges hitherto most plētifully proposed, he saith: All things, whatsoeuer ye would that mē should doe to you, do ye euen so to thē, for this is the law & the Prophets In the 13. & 14. verses. Thē proposing two wayes, and shewing the manner, the reason, and the end of both the wayes, hee exhorteth vs all to enter into that way, which indeede is the straighter [Page] and rougher, but yet leadeth vs in vnto life euerlasting. From the 15. verse vnto the 21. Againe because hee had spokē of the way, through the which men goe to destruction, hee giueth diligent warding foorthwith, least any where the godly shoulde bee ledde out of the way to their destruction, by the practises and de­ceiptfulnesse of false Prophetes, whom he paynteth foorth in their colours, least they should deceiue the simple with their goodlie shewe, and least the godly should be plucked from the way of truth into the incumbrances of heresies, and vnto their vtter ruine. From the 21. vers. vnto the 24. At the last concluding this most diuine sermon, he sheweth plainelye in the last place, that none outward shew doth profite any man to the making per­fect of godlinesse, From the 24. verse vnto the end of the chap. therefore hee gi­ueth vs to vnderstande that it is not sufficient for the obtayning of godlinesse and euerlasting life, to heare and vnder­stande the worde of GOD, or to bragge with loftie woordes, except wee expresse the same also by the most holy woorkes of faith and vertues: and this doeth hee declare by a feyned narration or a verye [Page] proper parable, and setteth it foorth before all mens eyes, exhorting euerye one of vs to the true studie of true god­linesse, whiche hath the continuing and moste sweete fruite of euerlasting life. The conclusiō of the exposition of the sermon. And this is the argument and summe of all the oration, whiche our Lorde and sauiour Christe made to all people in the mountaine. Thereof Saint Augustine saith: It appeareth that this sermon conteyneth perfectlye all those preceptes wherewith Christian life is instructed. Augustine. Matthevv his purpose in the 3. chap. last be­fore goyng. Matthewe hath reci­ted in the three chapters before goyng the whole sermon of Christe, that hee might geue vs a taste, and as it were geather together the summe of all the doctrine of Christe, His purpose in the 2. chap­ters folowing. and in these two chap­ters following hee setteth foorth plain­lye the vertue and the exceeding great power of Christe, by geathering to­gether verye many his myraculous be­nefites, and proposeth the same pow­er beeyng so sette foorth to bee dili­gentlye considered of all men The vse of the miracles of Ie­sus Christ. that thereby all the worlde maye geather that [Page] Iesus Christe is the liuing, true, and al­mighty sonne, of the liuing and almigh­tie GOD: and that hee is not onely al­mighty, but that hee is also most bounti­full, whiche came to conuert, to heale, and to saue sinners. This doth he proue, I say, most euidently by the most diuine and most strange miracles wrought by Christ, whereof this is the summe. The eight chapter. From the 1. verse vnto y ^e 5. First he cleanseth the Leper, which made sute vn­to him. From the 5. verse vnto the 14. Then he restoreth to life and per­fect health a certayne Centurion his ser­uaunt, beeyng readie to giue vp the Ghost foorthwith, and as it were dead. In the 14. & 15. verse. After this hee healeth Saint Peter his wiues mother lying sicke of a feuer: From the 16. verse vnto the 19. and to bee briefe cuteth all the infirmities of all.

From the 23. verse vnto the 28.Moreouer rebuking the very Sea, beyng a most barbarous Element, and ra­ging with cruel tempests, he made it more calme than any oyle. From the 28. verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. Straight way af­ter he draweth vnto him by his hid vertue, two possessed with Deuils, who breaking into peeces all their boltes and chaines, were verye troublesome to passengers, [Page] and could not be kept in order by the skill or strength of any, foorth of these misera­ble creatures hee casteth a whole legion of diuels and restoreth them to their first health.

The 9. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto the 9.Furthermore, hee so deliue­red from a most greeuous disease, a man sicke of a palsie lying in a bedde, not a man, but more truly y ^e miserable carkasse of a man, that foorthwith hee standing on his feete walked lustily, which hetherto was borne of others, and to make shorte, he him selfe bare his bed stronglie on his shoulders, whereby whilest he was sicke he was staied vp. In the 9. ver. And then is Leui (o­therwise called Matthew) called to re­pentance, From the 10. ver. vnto the 14 and also a great hope is ope­ned vnto sinners, which turne to Christe. From the 20. ver. vnto y ^e 23. After these things were thus done, the incurable disease of the woman, which was pittifully diseased with an issue of blood, is cured. In the 18. & 19. ver. & from the 23. ver▪ vn­to the 27. Also Iairus his daugh­ter, which was dead, is called back to life. From the 27 ver. vnto the 32 And two blinde men receiue their sight, From the 32. ver. vnto the 35. and a certaine man in very miserable plight is deliuered from a dumbe Diuel. In the 35 ver. Neither wrought he these few myracles [Page] only, but going through all cities and vil­lages, and preaching the Gospell of the kingdome, he healed all sicknesses and all diseases among the people. what we must learne by these myracles. By all these myracles Matthew the apostle declareth vnto vs, & proueth as it were by most strōg & vnrefutable arguments & testimonies, that Christe is the true sonne of the true God, the Lorde of all thinges, I meane of all elements, of all diseases and afflictiōs, of all sinnes, of the Diuell, and of death it selfe: and that therefore hee came into this worlde, that hee might make vs the Lordes of all thinges, and the sonnes of God, namely if wee receiue him with true faith. The maner of Matthew his writing. Therefore Matthew his purpose is, not only to describe by the deedes of Christ, the vertue of Christ, and that he is the bountifull and liberall bestower of all good things, but also to paint foorth their faith and all their maners which receiued the benefites of Christ. What wee must learne of them, vpon whō Christ wrought his myracles. For of them, as of liuely examples, we learn what maner of faith ours ought to bee, and howe wee should behaue our selues; that we may be made partakers of the benefites of God, that is to say, howe wee may become the [Page] sonnes of God, and the Lordes of thinges, whō neither sinne, nor death, nor the diuel himselfe can hurt, if wee following their examples, doe those thinges, which they did. Certaine points omit­ted purposely in the narration before going. Now he intermedleth among these myracles certaine things in the 8. Chap­ter touching the In the 8 chap. the 11. and 12. ver. & the 19.20.22. & 22. verse. calling to the faith of the Gospell, and in the 9. chapter concer­ning In the 9. cha. From the 14. vnto the 18 ver. fasting, and certaine other things, which also make to the setting foorth of the vertue of faith, and of the power and gentlenesse of the Lord. The deedes and words of Christ. And it is a ve­ry euident and familiar kinde of doctrine to teach by historie or examples, that is to say, rather by deedes then by wordes: ther­fore the three first Euangelistes doe more often handle the doings of Christ then de­clare his sayings. And in deede Christe seemeth vnto vs to bee much more liuely, when he worketh myracles than when he teacheth. For although his doctrine had a diuine efficacie and force also, yet do his deedes after a sort excel, exercising and ap­prouing that which is taught. Let no man therfore contemne y ^e former Euangelistes in cōparison of Iohn, because he seemeth to be more often occupied &. more diligēt [Page] in opening the wordes of Christ: whose wordes also haue their maiestie: for the holy Ghost hath directed the mindes and pennes of all the Euangelists to this pur­pose, that wee might haue, foorth of foure authours of sufficient credite, a most cer­taine & vndoubted historie of al the words and deedes of Christ. What order Matthew vseth It appeareth al­so by those thinges, which haue beene han­deled hitherto, that Matthew in the begin­ning vsed a naturall order, and somewhat after an artificial, & that he goeth forward now chiefly in this order, because it is most fitte to teach by. For he seemeth to haue a care, not so much to set foorth faithfully that which was said & done by the Lorde, as to place euery thing in his owne place and order, and fitly to teach by fitte order, and chiefly to moue the mindes of the hea­rers, yea and to ingraffe moste deepely Christ, and faith in Christ. A briefe re­hearsall of those thinges whiche Matthew hath hādled hitherto. Hitherto Matthew hath reported a certain abridge­ment of all y ^e doctrine of Christ the Lord, wherby he plentifully instructed his wor­shippers in true godlinesse: heerevnto he hath ioyned certaine of his greatest mi­racles, euen diuine and wonderfull [Page] workes, whereby he hath declared that he is the mightie and gentle Lorde of all things, which can make thē also, that stick vnto him by true faith, Lordes of sinne, of death, of Satan, and of all things els. In this businesse hee had chosen to himselfe witnesses, whom hitherto he made both be holders and hearers of all his matters, as well of his sayings, as of his doings: to this ende verily, that they might after­wardes bring foorth into all the world the charge of common saluation, now concei­ued & laid vp in their mindes. From the 36. ver. vnto the end of the chapter. And now they seemed sufficiently instructed in the rudiments and principles of faith and of Christiā religiō, therfore it was conueni­ent y ^t they shold be furder exercised therin, and by the meanes thereof prepared to greater matters: The 10. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto the 7. and therefore they are sent foorth of the Lorde him selfe to preach the Gospell now to the people of Israel only, From the 7. ver. vnto the 16 and are instructed in cer­taine commandements. For the Lord doth diligētly prescribe what they ought to do, & what their office is: In the 16.17 & 18. verses. And he sheweth thē also what they shall suffer, yea how pe­rilous a thing it is to be a minister of the [Page] worde in a corrupt & vnthankfull age. From the 19. verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. Therefore he cōforteth his disciples wor­thily & finely with furnished talk, teaching them how they ought to continue constāt­ly in all aduersities in true godlines, & to ouercome all euils. The 11. cha. In the 1. ver. Afterward Mat­thew sheweth, how the Lorde Iesus him­self, who only is cōmended & inioyned to the true preachers of God his worde to be preached by thē, disclosed himself, & made himselfe knowne to be the true Messias, y ^e only expected saluatiō of the world: which verily is the first & most sure foundatiō of all the Lord his preaching. From the 2. ver. vnto the 16 In the same place also is set foorth the prayse of Iohn the Baptist, that is to say a most cleere exā ­ple of a very good minister, proposed to al those, which are desirous to doe their duty aright. From the 16. ver. vnto the 25 And foorthwith is adioyned an excellent exāple of a sermon of the Lord. First, how he rebuked the stubborne vnbe­liefe of his own nation, & left a paterne of accusation & reproofe to his ministers. In the 25. & 26. ver. Then how he preached the kingdome of God to men of a better hope. In the 27. ver He shew­ed that he hath the power of all things, & that hee is the fountaine of all goodnesse, which cānot bee drawē drie, which is wil­ling [Page] & desirous to be drawē, In the 28.29. & 30. ver. and there­fore he inuiteth all men vnto him, and pro­miseth to graunt rest vnto all mē, in what distresse so euer they be. The 12. cha. From the 1. verse vnto the 9. Then doth hee diligently handle the questiō of the religi­ous keping of y ^e Sabboth, & admonishing by the way y ^t boūtifulnes and the inwarde worshipping of God, is more allowed of God, than the outwarde keeping of the Saboth. From the 9. verse to the 14. Moreouer y ^t bountifulnes, which lately he cōmended, he sheweth to a certaine miserable mā very greatly afflic­ted w ^t a withered hād, which he restored to him sound. From the 14. verse vnto the 22. And because he could soften the hardnes of the people of the Iewes nei­ther by any benefits, nor by any myracles, forsomuch as they did oftētimes cōspire a­gainst him, he departeth frō thē for a time, practising nothing more bitter or more sharpe against them, if peraduenture they might be ouercome with gentlenes & lōg suffering, prescribing by y ^e very same deed of his a forme to his ministers, what they should do also in the like cases and w ^t such maner of men. But hee shrinketh not from his office, hee leaueth not off to doe good, neither forsaketh hee the vndertaken defence of the trueth, yeeldyng no [Page] whit at all in these points to his enemies. In the 22. & 23. verses. Therefore he deliuereth from the Di­uell one possessed with a Deuill, which was brought vnto him, being blinde and dumbe, & restoreth vnto him the vse of his tongue and of his eyes: In the 24. verse. and because the Pharisees did detract this diuine deed, as­cribing it to the working by the Diuell, From the 25. ver. vnto the 30 the Lord taketh vpō him the defence of the truth, & proueth by most strong argumēts, y ^t his myracles, workes, yea and all his do­ings were wrought by the power of God & not of the Diuell, and that therefore the kingdome of heauē was now come. And here doth he againe most plainely set forth that, which lately wee said was the chiefe point of our religiō, namely, that Iesus is Christ. Frō the 30. ver. vnto the 46 And foorthwith hādeling his ad­uersaries, as they deserued, hee rebuketh thē most grauely. For he sheweth at large their want of belief, or rather their vngod­lines, & declareth what shall become of the contēners of the kingdom of God. From the 46 ver. vnto the end of the Chapter. Last­ly he putteth backe his mother & his cou­sins, which were desirous to speake with him, by a somewhat hard answere, signifi­ing therby, y ^t the least must not be yelded to carnall affectiōs, so oft as the affaires of [Page] the kingdome of God are in handeling. A briefe repe­tition of the 3. chapters last before going. In the three chapters last before going, Matthew hath intreated of the Ministers of God his worde, and of certaine chiefe pointes of our religion: The matter bandeled in the 2. chapters fol­lowing. and nowe doeth there followe a more plentifull treatise of the woorde of GOD, of the vertue, fruite, and price thereof: which is fitly knitte to the matter before going. For the ministerie of the worde of God is occupied in the verie word of God. And this treatise is set foorth in parabolicall speaches and similitudes, that at the least by this meanes the mindes of the godly might be stirred vp to the searching forth of the trueth and mysteries of God. The 13. cha. From the first vers. vnto y ^e 24. And the first parable, proposed touching him which sowed seede in the fielde, shew­eth that there be diuers kindes of hearers of God his worde, and that God doth not allowe all the hearers of his worde, but them onely, in whom the seede prospereth vntill it bring forth due fruite. From the 24 vers. vnto y ^e 31. Forth­with by an other parable, that is to say by the similitude of the tares, hee pointeth forth as it were with the finger an other fault also and plague of tilled land, teach­ing in the meane season, howe good seede [Page] may be preserued sounde. In the 31.32 &. 33. verses. In the 34. and 35. verses is shewed the cause why Iesus spake by simili­tudes. From the 36 vnto the 44. verse christ repoundeth the parable of the tares. After this by two other similitudes, taken from the graine of mustarde seede and from leuen, hee sheweth howe great the power of the worde of God is, and howe euidently it worketh in them by whome it is receiued, although it seeme to the worlde vile and contemned. In the 44, 45 and 46. verses. In the fourth place by two other similituds, proposed touching a treasure hidde in the fielde, and a most precious pearle, he signifieth that the price of God his worde is so great, that in com­parison hereof we ought to contemne all thinges in the worlde, although they bee neuer so precious, yea that we ought, with the very losse of all our goodes, to prouide vs the worde of God. From the 47 verse vnto y ^e 51 Againe in setting forth the similitude of the net cast into the sea, he sheweth plainely what shal become of them especially, which intermedle them selues in the assembly of the godly, and yet are hypocrites and counterfeite godli­nesse, teaching the meane while that wee must not lightly condemn any forthwith, but leaue euery one to his owne iudge. In the 51 and 52. verses. When as he had set foorth these things after this maner, he commaundeth his mi­nisters [Page] also diligently to way the simili­tudes, and for the playner setting forth of the trueth, and of the glorie of the king­dome of GOD, and for the profite of the Churche, to vse all the kindes of elocution and apt speach. From the 53. verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. And although the Lord taught in such sort, that no man was able to accuse either his faithful dealing or his diligence, yet was he litle regarded and accepted of his cuntrey men, which con­temned and laughed to scorne the heauen­ly doctrine of godlinesse. But he bare this with a valient minde, giuing an example to all his ministers, that they may also take the matter paciently, if the world also litle regard them. The 14. cap From the first verse vnto the 13 And then doth Mat­thewe forthwith sette foorth the wonder­full example of that very good man Iohn the Baptist, who also was very euill re­warded of Herode for his faithful seruice, being most pitifully beheaded of him. From the 13 verse vnto the 22. After this he fed in the wildernesse by his diuine power a great multitude of men, which w ^t merueylous feruentnes thirsted the preaching of the word: shewing by y ^e miracle, y ^t the faithful folowers of y ^e word [Page] of God shall want nothing at any time, especially of those thinges whiche are ne­cessarie and not superfluous. And by the same fact he taught his disciples to helpe the faithfull people hauing neede. Frō the 22. verse vnto the ende of y ^e chap. Last­ly he deliuereth his disciples, which were in perill of the stormes of the sea and of a great tempest, and whiche looked for no­thing els but most present death: decla­ring so vnto his, that hee is hee, which can deliuer all from all perils, and can saue al men by his power and grace, chiefely the ministers of his worde. Therefore if the cruell and fearefull example of Iohn did any whitte terrifie them, these two great and goodly benefites of God do confirme and comfort them againe. The 15. cha. From the 1. ver. vnto y ^e 21. Vnto the treatise of the word of God is fitly ioyned by Matthewe the disputation touching the traditions of men, or the ordinances and constitutions of Fathers, as contrary to the worde of God. Christ teacheth vs manifestly to contemne them, if they tend to the contumelie, derogation, and con­tempt of God his worde. And because the Pharisees the patrons and defenders of mens traditions, were offended at this [Page] wholesome doctrine of the Lord, the Lord sheweth foorthwith, that no accomptes at all ought to bee made of such kinde of of­fence, and of such kinde of men: declaring the meane season, that man is not defiled with outwarde thinges, but rather with those euill thinges, which proceede out of the closets of the harte. From the 21. verse vnto the 29. After that with­drawing himselfe from those indurate and vnthankefull men, hee departed into the cuntrey of the Gentiles, where forthwith a woman of Syrophenissa being indued with a most strong faith made a most ear­nest request vnto him: in whome there is set foorth most manifestly both a meruey­lous example of true faith, and also the ef­fect therof. For after the reproofe of false doctrine, which is the mother of false faith, there is set foorth with great diligence in these 15, 16, and 17 chapters, as was also in the 8, and 9 chapters, true faith in the Lorde, and the true nature of faith, and al­so in the same are opened the chiefest ar­ticles of our faith. From the 29. verse vnto the ende of the chapter. Moreouer returning againe into Galilee, he feedeth againe the common people, which followed him, she­wing by this benefite also, that it is hee, [Page] which can feede both the soule and the bo­die, and that therefore this foode must bee sought for by faith only and most ear­nestly at y ^e hands of the shepheard Christ. The 16. chapter. From the first verse vnto y ^e 5. Afterwardes he repelleth and putteth backe the Pharisees requiring a signe, whereby he might proue himselfe to be y ^e Messias, by shewing them the signe of his death & of his resurrection: From the 5. verse vnto the 13. then doth he commande his disciples to beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees & Sadduces: y ^e which thing althoug hee had taught in the beginning of y ^e 15. chapt. yet both he here speake of it againe in the 16 chapter, as a matter very necessary for y ^e Church. From the 13. verse vnto the 21. Af­ter that returning to the commendatiō of faith, he layeth y ^e foundation of fayth, buil­deth the Church vpon the foundation, and pointeth forth as it were with the finger, whiche is the true faith of the Catholike Church, & which is the true and right con­fession, shewing also howe the same may be planted. From the 21 verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. Where vnto hee forthwith adioyneth a most manifest doctrine of his passion and resurrection, also of the deni­yng of one his selfe and of the bearing of [Page] his crosse after Christ, and of the iudge­ment to come, that is to say, of the greatest articles of our faith, and of the holy duety of Christians, a doctrine altogether per­tayning to the perfectnesse of faith. The 17. chapter. From the 1. ver. vnto y ^e 14. A­gaine least any should be offended at this sorowful doctrine ful of labours & paines touching the bearing of the crosse, Mat­thewe adioyneth here vnto immediatly the glorious transformation of Christ the Lorde in the mountaine, whereby he part­ly gaue vs a tast of what sort he shoulde be in his glorie, and what the maner of the glory to come is, whiche is prepared for thē, whiche faithfully and paciently beare the crosse of Christ: and partly he sheweth also most euidently, that he is very Christ promised in the lawe and the prophetes, that hee might confirme the faith of all which beleeue in him. And hee propo­sed those thinges so manifestly to his disciples, that they did nowe plainely vn­derstande, that Iesus was Christ, and that therfore they did moue the question of the coming of Helias the messenger of the Messias, where vnto the Lord answering [Page] forthwith, affirmed plainely that hee was y ^e Messias, & that Iohn Baptist was Helias. From the 14 verse vnto the 19. Lastly he restored a certaine Lunatike man vnto his father, which made sute for him, declaring againe by the same benefit, that he is the king of his people, and the conquerour of the Diuell: From the 19 verse vnto the 22. shewing also howe great the power of faith is, and howe greate the euill of vnbeleefe is, concluding that by temperance and ab­stinence proceeding from a true faith, the force of the Deuill is chiefely broken. In the 22. and 23. verses And herunto doth he forthwith adioyne the preaching and forshewing of his death and passion, not without great and plenti­full fruite. Wherof Matthew intreated last, and wherof he speaketh next Faith in the Lorde Iesus beyng well taught, and the true knowe­ledge of the kingdome of the Sonne of God being well obtayned, whereof Mat­thewe hath hitherto intreated at large, he passeth nowe wisely to those thinges, which almost stande in the outwarde con­uersation of man, and which notwithstan­ding perteyne to the kingdome of Christ. From the 24 verse vnto the ende of the cha. Of the whiche kinde the question con­cerning the Magistrate is: What Chri­stians owe vnto him? The Lorde sheweth [Page] therefore by his owne example, what wee ought to doe herein rightly. The 18. cha. From the 1. ver. vnto y ^e 7. Like vnto this is the question touching ecclesia­sticall preheminence: Who should be the greatest in the kingdome of heauen? Here the Lorde withdraweth the mindes of his disciples from ambition and from the dis­putations raysed touching the pri­macie and chiefe authoritie, and teach­ing thē most diligently humilitie. From the 7. vers. vnto y ^e 15. Then doth he adioyne herevnto a profitable ad­monition for the auoyding of offence: In the 15. and 16. verses where he intreateth also of brotherly ad­monition, From the 17. verse vnto the 21. of reprouing offenders open­ly, and From the 21. verse vnto the ende of the chapter. of forgiuing a trespasse, wherein grauely perswading all men, hee setteth foorth a most goodly parable concerning the same matter. The 19. cha. From the first vers. vnto y ^e 10. Hauing finished these thinges, he disputeth of diuorse: he resto­reth and reformeth the olde and holy insti­tution of holy matrimonie: In the 10.11 & 12. verses. he reciteth the kindes of chaste menne, shewing that single life is the singular gift of God. In the 13.14 and 15. verses. And because mariage was ordeyned of God cheefly for the procreation of chil­dren, he sheweth next after the restitution of mariage, how children are esteemed of [Page] God. From the 16 verse vnto the 21. He bringeth forth also the exam­ple of a certaine young man, to teach vs therby, that it belongeth to yong men al­so to seeke the kingdome of God, and that God his desire is, y ^t youth be well brought vp. And there is shewed, which is the way to heauen: From the 21. ver. vnto y ^e 27. Also what the vse of riches is, and with what minde we must possesse earthly wealth. Frō the 27. verse vnto the ende of y ^e chap. Moreouer by occasion of the Lordes talke, there riseth nowe an other disputation about the rewarde of vertues, and how modestly they ought to thinke of them selues, which looke for re­wardes. The 20 chap From the 1. verse vnto the 17. And that he might fasten this more deepely in the mindes of all men, he vseth the similitude of a man that was an housholder, which hired labourers into his vineyard, whereby hee toucheth the Iewes secretly, and doth somewhat sha­dow forth the receiuing of the Gentiles. In y ^e 17.18. and 19. verses. Againe least any, being puffed vp with pride by the name of rewarde, should sup­pose that he is iustified by his own works, the Lord preacheth diligently of his own death and resurrection, that we may vn­derstand that we are iustified thereby. From the 20 verse vnto the 24 [Page] And although he oftē repeted these things with great grauitie, yet doth y ^e flesh, aspi­ring cōtinually to honors, seeke not those thinges which are of God, but which are of men. For the mother of zebedee his children, her sonnes not beeing ignorant thereof, asketh cheefe authoritie of the Lord for her sonnes. In the 24. verse. Herevpon the o­ther disciples enuie them, and contend a­mong themselues sharply and most am­bitiously. From the 25. vnto the 29. But the Lord reduceth al their mindes to humilitie, drawing out that same most hurtefull poyson with most e­uident argumentes. From the 29 verse vnto the ende of the chapter. Lastly he restoreth sight to the blinde, which craued the mer­cie of God, to this ende, that he might de­clare by all meanes, that he came into the worlde to helpe and saue men. Wherof Matthew spake be­fore, and wherof he intreateth nowe. Matthew described last before, what the Lorde did hitherto in Galilee, and in his iourney from Galilee, as hee went vp to Hie­rusalem, and nowe doth he shewe what he did in the holy and royall Citie it selfe.

And the nearer hee draweth to his crosse and death, the more liuely doeth hee shew his wholesome strength, & most holi­ly setteth forth his worthy power & grace. [Page] The 21. cha. From the 1 verse vnto the 8. For entering nowe into the holy citie with a very newe and humble pompe, hee sheweth most clearely that he is the verye kinge and deliuerer of Israel looked for. From the 8. verse vnto the 12. Hee is receyued with wyllyng mindes and honourably of the common people, that we also may learne therby to receiue the Lord truely and religiously. Frō the 12. verse vnto the 17. And he did in the temple offices very kinglike & priestlike, whereat the Pharisees & priests almost burst in sunder for spite & hatred.

For firste purging the temple from filth, & reforming y ^e holy worshipping of God, he thrust the byers and sellers out of the temple: then takyng care for the poore, he healeth the sicke. In the 17. verse. And when these things were happily accomplished he go­eth forth of the citie, In the 18, & 19. verses. and curseth y ^e figge tree, which brought forth no fruite, which forthwith withering, shadowed forth by a certaine token, what was imminent to y ^e holy citie. In the 20, 21 & 22. verses. Although the Lord by occa­sion thereof doth teache his disciples true fayth, and commende vnto them faithfull prayers. From the 23 verse vnto the 28. And returnyng to the temple, as belonged vnto his princely office, hee taught diligently, and sharpely contended [Page] with the enemies of true religion. For whereas they asked, by what authoritie y ^e Lorde did those thinges, which he did, hee brydleth them with a contrary question, yea he doeth most grauely accuse them of disloyalty and impenitent life. From the 28 ver. vnto the 33 For vnto this purpose doeth he bring foorth a pa­rable framed touching two sonnes, com­paring his enemies vnto Publicanes and harlottes, that he might shewe, that these were more religious and more blessed thē they. From the 33 verse vnto the ende of the cha. Here vnto doth he forthwith ad­ioyne an other similitud of an housholder, whiche let out his vineyarde to husbande men or farmers, whereby he doeth liuely paynt foorth the benefites of God and the peuish and shamelesse vnthankefulnes of the people of the Iewes, whose punishmēt foorth with hee sheweth, namely that the Iewes should be cast off, and that y ^e Gen­tiles shoulde bee receiued into their place. The 22. chap Frō the first verse vnto the 15. And vnto the same purpose also per­teyneth the similitude, whiche hee put forth touching them that were bydden to the wedding, sharpely reprouing the dis­obedience and vnbeleefe of the nation of the Iewes, for y ^e which they were to be cut [Page] off and to be forsaken. Frō the 15. verse vnto the 23. These things be­ing finished, Matthewe goeth forewarde, and setteth forth plainely certaine graue, sharpe, and profitable questions or dispu­tations handeled betweene the Lord and the lawyers. First of this: whether tri­bute ought to be paied to Caesar? From the 23 verse vnto the 34. Then, whether the dead rise againe, and howe they rise againe? From the 34 vers. vnto y ^e 41. Moreouer, what the chiefest commaundement in the Lawe is: what the ende and matter of the lawe and of the Prophetes is? Frō the 41. verse vnto the end of the chap. Afterwardes, how Christ, for so much as he is the sonne of Dauid, after y ^e fleshe, can be also his Lord? All these thinges doth our Lord in respect of his priestly office expounde most reli­giously, most learnedly, most plainely, and greatly to the profite of the faithfull.

The 23. chap From the 1. ver. of the chap. end of the same.Lastly, when as hee sawe the Pha­risees and the rest of the rulers of the people to be altogether blinde, indurate, and vncurable, hee inuayeth most sharply against them, accusing them of most gree­uous and vnruly offences: hee ad­deth the punishment of their mischiudus deedes, & the most terrible destruction of the people and of the citie. Al these things did our Lord openly, with great authority in the tēple, instructing his Church here­by [Page] profitably, diuersly, & in many pointes. A remem­brance of those thinges which haue bin spoken of before. Our Lord hath hitherto by the way and yet often spoken of the ouerthrowe of the people of the Iewes and of the citie Hie­rusalem: wherein he comprehended both the casting off of the Iewes out of the fe­lowship of God, and also the prophanation of the temple, of the priesthood, and of all y ^e woorshipping, after the ceremonial law The 24. cha. Frō the first verse vnto the 42. ▪ And because these things seemed strāge and incredible, namely that God woulde prophane and forsake that people descen­ded from holy parents, and that place, and that worshipping, & that holy preisthoode, he doth more fully expounde vnto his dis­ciples, which inquired there of, the iudge­ment and destinie hanging ouer the peo­ple and citie, liuely describing, what won­derfull matters and strange tokens, what troubles, calamities, and miseries shoulde go before that destruction: and of what maner, how cruell, horrible, and fearefull that ruine should be. Forthwith by occasiō of the destruction of the citie, he reasoneth also of y ^e destruction of the world, or of the finishing of y ^e world, & of y ^e glorious com­ming of the sonne of man to iudgement: [Page] Frō the 42. verse vnto the ende of y ^e chap. exhortyng all men to sober and diligent watchfulnes, proposing rewardes to the watchfull, and threatning punishment to the slouthful & sleepie. The 25 chap Frō the first verse vnto the 31. Which things forthw ^t he plainly sheweth by most comely and most plentifull similitudes, handeling as well the partes of the watchfull as of the sleepie. Frō the 31. verse vnto the 46. Lastly Matthewe adioyneth a description, or as if it were a certayne fi­gure of the iudge to come, and of his laste iudgement: wherin y ^e last sentence is pro­nounced by the same iudge against al man kinde, ioyful to the good, but most sorow­full to y ^e euil. For this matter is thus con­cluded: In the last ver of the chapter. And these shall go away into e­uerlasting paine: but the righteous into life eternal. A briefe ar­gument of that which foloweth. After all these things there is placed, as the finishing & the most per­fect accomplishing of al our saluation, the most holy, & most profitable historie of the passion & redemption of Christ the Lord: wherein he fully executeth all y ^e offices as wel of a priest, as of a king, and in a briefe sūme doth propose his greatest force to be beholden of al men. For he teacheth dili­gently both by al his wordes and by al his deedes, hee instituteth his famous sacra­ment, hee prayeth most feruently, hee sa­crificeth [Page] for sinne, hee purgeth sinners, he deliuereth, he pitieth, hee defendeth his seruants, and he treadeth downe and puni­sheth the wicked, shewing euery where in­credible humilitie, and declaring some­time no small glory, when as all the ele­ments, being troubled at his death, shewed most plaine tokens as it were of their great sorrowe. Matthew handeleth all these things in a goodly order, & in a pure, plaine, and liuely stile. The 26. chap. In the 1. & 2 verses. For first hee sheweth the time wherein he suffered, and proposeth the sūme of his passion. From the 3. ver. vnto the 1 [...] Then he describeth some causes of the Lorde his death, proceeding partly from the enuie & malice of the Priestes against Christ, and partly from the couetousnesse and horri­ble treason of Iudas, which sold his Lorde to the Senate of Bishops. Frō the 17. ver. vnto the 26 Hauing fini­shed the causes, he commeth vnto the des­cription of his last supper: wherein aboue all things he foresheweth his Disciples both his death, and also that hee should bee both betrayed and sold of his owne: More­ouer he prouoketh by many meanes the mind of Iudas the traitour to repentance: but in vaine. From the 26 ver. vnto the 30 After this he instituteth in it the renowmed Sacrament of his bo­dy [Page] and blood, the remembrāce of his death, wherein we may see the briefe summe of our saluation & of all godlines. In the 30. ver. When as hee had supped, hee went out with his disciples vnto the mount of Oliues, In the 31. and 32. verses. In the way he foresheweth the great offence, w ^t shold rise among his disciples because of him. In the 33.34 and 35. verses. But they being bolde enough and rash enough, and not acknowledging enough their owne infirmitie, do promise constancie and great faith, Peter specially, vnto whome notwithstanding the Lorde foretelleth his most filthie fall. In the 36.37 and 38. verses. In the garden of the mount of Oliues he is mer­ueilously vexed, and pitifully tormented with the feare of death. In the 39. verse. In the meane season he prayeth earnestly and constant­ly, commiteing both himselfe and all his businesse to God and to his holy will. From the 40. verse vnto the 47. Then doth he diligently waken his Dis­ciples beeing a steepe: In the 47. verse. and whilest hee was occupied therein, Iudas the traitour commeth, bringing with him a rowte of most wicked and most filthie varlets: In the 48. & 49. verses. foorthwith he kisseth his master, and with a kisse betraieth his Lord to his most wic­ked enemies. In the 50. verse. For the chiefe Priestes [Page] seruāts fal vpō y ^e Lord, take him, bind him, & oppresse him. From the 51. ver. vnto the 55 In the mean season Pe­ter fighteth vnhappily for his master, and is stayed by his master: In the 55. verse. who also foorthwith sharpely reproueth the open, greeuous, and most wicked reproch of the chiefe Priestes seruants then offered vn­to him. In the 56. ver And whilest these things were thus in doing, all the Disciples flie from the Lorde. In the 57. & 58. verses. But hee is brought away to Caiphas the high Priest into the consisto­rie. In the 59.60 and 61. verses Two thinges were chiefly hande­led there. The Lorde is accused before the Priestes and the counsell, false witnes­ses are brought foorth, From the 62 ver. vnto the 65 the Lorde his cause is handeled most vniustly, In the 65. and 66. verses and at the last hee is condemned, In the 67. & 68. verses. buffetted, and most vnworthily spit vpon. From the 66. verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. And withal the filthie and shamefull denying of Peter is plentifully described. The 27 cap. In the 1 and 2. verses. And when as the sentence of condemnatiō was pro­nounced against him, he is brought forth­with from the Priestes, and foorth of the Consistorie or hall of the high priest, into the iudgemente Hall, vnto Pontius Pilate the Romane Deputie, vnto whome hee is deliuered as the moste [Page] wicked of all men, and as one hauing de­serued a most vile death. In the 3.4. and 5. verses. The meane while Iudas the traitour examining him­selfe more deepely, and waying his moste cruell and wicked offence more rightly, goeth into the temple, restoreth the traite­rous money to the Priestes, despaireth & most horribly hangeth himselfe. From the 6. ver. vnto the 11 The Priests w ^t the bloodie money buie the pot­ters field to burie strāgers in. From the 11. ver. vnto the 27 Moreouer Pontius Pilate the deputie of the Romans inquireth diligently the cause, and the chiefe pointes of the accusation laide a­gainst the Lorde by the Priestes: and he vnderstandeth foorthwith, that the enuie of the Priestes was the cause: therefore hee both pronounceth him innocent, and iudgeth, that hee ought to bee set fully at libertie: whereupon hee tryeth sundrie and many wayes to let him loose, which had committed none euill. The priestes are most wickedly earnest to the contra­ry, they accuse, they vrge, they lye, they threaten, yea and they perswade and prick forward the common people, and at the last they ouercome the iudge being wee­ried with their importunate cries, to let [Page] them do with the Lord what they list, and to deliuer him to his souldiers to be cruci­fied. From the 27 ver. vnto the 35 The souldierrs therefore most cruelly and most vnworthily whippe the sonne of God with scourges, they crowne him with a crowne of thornes, they wor­ship him in contempt, they laugh at him, and spit vpon him: then they lay his crosse vpon his shoulders, and leade him being halfe dead vnto the place of execution. From the 35. ver. vnto the 45 There they crucifie him in the middest be­tweene two most wicked theeues, they part his garments as a certaine spoile, and setting all pitie and curtisie aside, they mock him suffering most bitter torments, as thoogh he had bin deceiued of his hope in God. From the 45. ver. vnto the 51. But he, in so many & so great reproches and torments, continuyng con­stantly in perfect faith and patience, and sacrificyng most holyly for the sinnes of all the worlde, cryeth to God the father, vnto whome also, at the last yeelding vp the Ghoste, be committeth his most holy soule. From the 51. ver. vnto y ^t 54. And foorthwith, after hee had giuen vp the Ghoste, the vaile in the tem­ple of Hierusalem is rent in two peeces, and certaine strange wōders are wrought [Page] both in heauen and earth: In the 54, 55 & 56. verses. wherewith the Centurion an Heathen being moued, doth openly witnesse, that this Iesus, al­though hee were crucified, was the true sonne of God. From the 57 verse vnto y ^e 62 After this Ioseph of Ari­mathea, a mā of very great credit & digni­tie, commeth to Pilate, and intreateth, y ^t the body of Iesus might be giuen to him, that he might bury it. Pilate graunteth it wil­lingly, therefore the body of the Lorde is buried most worthilie. From the 62 verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. Moreouer y ^e chief of the Iewes fearing that the Lord would rise againe, request also of Pilate that a band of souldiers might bee giuen them to watch the sepulchre: whē they had recei­ued this bande, they beset the graue most strōgly, & least there might be any deceit wrought, they seale the stone or couer of y ^e sepulchre, namely that they might reteine & stay the liuing Lord among the dead. The matter conteined in the last Chapter. Mathew describeth in this last chapter the glorious resurrectiō of Iesus Christe the Lord frō the dead. The 28. cha. In the 1. and 2. verses. The Angell of the Lord cōmeth downe frō heauē, he rolleth backe the stone frō the dore of the graue, y ^e earth shaketh w ^t an earthquake, & the glo­rious body of the Lord restored to life cō ­meth out forthwith. In the 3. & 4. verses. Moreouer because y ^e [Page] angel did shine like lightning, the keepers being amased, w ^tstand not the Lord rising againe, but think it best to prouide for thē ­selues by fleeing away. In the 5.6. & 7. verses. The mean while come the womē to see y ^e sepulchre, bring­ing with thē the sweet odours, which they had prepared. Vnto thē appeareth the fore­said angel of the Lord, & teacheth thē that Christ was risen in deed, cōmanding them to depart forthw ^t, & to report the resurrec­tion to the disciples. In the 8.9. & 10. verses. Whilest they were going their way, y ^e Lord himself met thē, shewing himself plainly vnto thē restored to life, & cōmanding thē to declare his true resurrectiō vnto his disciples. In the 11. verse. Whilest these things were in doing, those souldiers y ^e keepers of the sepulchre, whō lately we said left their stāding & fled, came into the citie, & declared to y ^e chiefe Priestes those things, which they had seen, how y ^e Angell came down frō heauen, & rolled backe the stone: how Christ came forth aliue again, & how bright & fearful y ^e forme of y ^e angel was. From the 12 ver. vnto the 16 At w ^t newes y ^t priests & pharisees being astonied & raging, bribed the soul­diers w ^t money, who lying, as they were taught, spread abrode among the common people this foolishe reporte, that whilest they slept, forsooth the disciples came and [Page] stole his body foorth of the Sepulchree. In the 16.17 & 18. verses. But the Lorde Iesus offering himselfe to be beholden most manifestly of his Disci­ples in Galilee, confirmeth them in the truth of faith. In the 19. & 20. verses. And because all thinges which hytherto haue beene declared in this booke concerning the doctrine, the deedes, the death and the resurrection of Christ, doe perteine to the common salua­tion of all mankinde, therefore he sendeth forth his Disciples as messengers into al the worlde, commaunding them to baptise and to preach the Gospell to euery crea­ture, promising the meane while that hee, although in body he go vp to heauen, will bee with his, and with his holy Churche continually and vnto the ende of the worlde.

SAint Marke beginneth the historie of his Go­spell with the baptisme and doctrine of Iohn Baptist, The 1. chap. In the 1. & 2. verses. From the 3 verse vnto the 7. shewing what he taught, In the 7. & 8. verses. what hee witnessed of Christ the Lorde, howe hee behaued himselfe, In the 9. ver. and how hee baptised Christ the Lorde. In the 10 & 11. verses. Heere vnto hee ioyneth foorthwith, howe Christ was annoynted and reuealed or made knowen, In the 12 and 13 verses. howe he was exercised and prouoked with greeuous temptation, In the 14 & 15 verses, lastly how he came abroade, & preached y ^e kingdome of God. From the 16 verse vnto the 21. Hee taketh vnto him selfe foorthwith from the beginning of his preaching witnesses of his deedes and wordes, calling some of them disci­ples, whom he might fashion and make instructors of all the worlde, forsomuch as he came to lighten all the worlde with the doctrine of truth, and to redeeme the same [Page] from the power of sinne, of death, of hell, and of Sathan. In the 21. & 22. verses. Herevnto he ioyneth the most great effect and vertue of Christ his doctrine. For all men are astonied at his doctrine. From the 23. ver. vnto the 28. Sathan is restrayned and cast out, who geueth place to Christe with feare. From the 28. ver. vnto y ^e 40. Afterwardes Christe him­selfe, and the almightie power of Christ is described by his deedes. For he hea­leth all diseases, From the 40 verse vnto the end of the chap. hee putteth away all euils, The 2. cha. From the 1. ver. vnto the 13 hee forgiueth sinnes, From the 13. ver. vnto y ^e 18. hee iustifieth sinners and restoreth them to their soundnesse. In the 1. chap. the 40. ver. and in the 2. chap. the 3, & 4. vers. The meane while diuers examples are sette foorth to the faithfull, in them whiche come to Christe to craue his helpe, howe wee also ought to come vnto Christe. From the 18 ver. vnto y ^e 23. Foorthwith the Lorde purgeth the fa­stinges, From the 23. vers. to the end of the chap. and holye dayes of his people from the erroures of the Pha­risees, The 3. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto y ^e 13. and the meane season hee sheweth his strength, proouing him­selfe to bee the Sonne of GOD. From the 13. ver. vnto the 20 Nowe when as by this meanes hee had sufficiently wonne the heartes of his dis­ciples, that they might nowe beginne to vnderstande the vertue of Christe the [Page] Sonne of GOD, hee chooseth foorth of them twelue, vnto whom he in­ioyneth the charge of preaching the Go­spell, and furnisheth them with the power of woorking miracles. From the 20 ver. vnto the 31 Then hee sheweth, that the successe of the Go­spell, and the miracles of the Gospell ought to bee ascribed to the power of GOD, not to Sathan, or to ma­gike. From the 31 ver. vnto the end of the chap. And hee sheweth by his owne example, what manner of men the prea­chers of God his worde should be, namely such as haue renounced fleshe and blood, and which are the sonnes of GOD. The 4. chap. Frō the 1. ver. vnto the end of the chap. By whiche occasion he reasoneth forth­with plentifully of the seede, foorth of which the sonnes of God growe, that is to say, of the hearing or learning of God his woorde, of the effecte, force, successe, and fruite of GOD his woorde. All the whiche thinges he proposeth in­wrapped and couered with moste elegant parables. Hee addeth also the disea­ses, faultes, and perils, whereun­to God his seede is subiect, setting foorth euerye where in the meane season the [Page] vertue of Christ. A remēbrance of that which was spokē be­fore. In the chapters be­fore goyng many things haue been dispu­ted touching the worde of God. The matter cō ­tained in the 5 6 & 7 chapters. But the onely and most certaine purpose of the 5, 6, and 7 chapters is Iesus the Sauiour of the worlde, and faith in him. The 5 chap. From the first vers. vnto the end of the chap. There­fore that the name of Christ the Sauiour might bee more famous, & that the faith in him might be more commended to all Saintes, Marke placeth in the 5. chapter three notable histories, whereby he setteth foorth euidently the power and vertue of Christ, and teacheth faith in Christ. The 6 chap. From the first verse vnto the 4. Then doth he returne againe to the word of God, & to the preaching of y ^e word. For he bringeth in the Lorde preaching in his owne coūtrie, In the 4, 5, & 6 verses. who also sharpely accused the vnthankfulnesse of his owne people. In the 7 verse Heereunto he ioyneth in goodly order the sending foorth of the disciples to the office of preaching, From the 8 verse vnto the 12. and setteth foorth the pre­cepts, wherwith he instructed them being readie to depart. In the 12 & 13 verses. And then doth he also touche the obedience and diligence of the disciples. From the 14 verse vnto the 30. Foorthwith hee setteth foorth the worthie historie of Saint Iohn y ^e Bap­tist, wherein is proposed a notable exam­ple [Page] of a good and faithfull Preacher, and also declareth what his end was. From the 30 ver. vnto the 45. Againe to the comfort of his ministers, and for the instruction of all the faithfull, the Lorde fedde much people in the wildernesse, From the 45. verse vnto the end of the chapt. and deliuered his disciples beyng in peril vpon the sea. What may be learned by the doings of christ spoken of in this chap. before go­ing. For so doth the Lord wit­nesse, that he is the foode of the faithfull, that he is the chiefe shepheard, that hee gi­ueth shepheardes, that he deliuereth those, which call vpon him, from all daungers, and that he bringeth them into a quiet ha­uen. And this much touching the doctrine of the trueth: The 7 chap. From the 1 verse vnto y ^e 14. heereunto Marke ioy­neth a treatise of mens traditions. The Lorde teacheth to beware of them and to auoyde them. From the 14 ver. vnto y ^e 24. Notwithstanding leauing forthwith the teachers of mens traditions, he turneth to the people, and expoundeth to them, which is the true purenesse of the minde, which is the end of the doctrine of Godlinesse, euen that the minde of man may bee purged. From the 24 verse vnto the 31. Lastly by the example of the woman of Sirophenissa true faith in Christ is taught, From the 31 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. as also by healing the deafe stammerer, is taught how great the goodnesse and vertue of the Lorde [Page] is. The 8. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto the 11 Because faith is the chiefest ver­tue of Christians, Marke adioyneth cer­tayne thinges, whereby hee teacheth a­gayne and confirmeth the faith of the god­ly by the woordes and deedes of the god­ly, healing affection, which greatly distur­beth faith, and deepely ingraffeth the care of thinges present, yea mistrust it selfe. In the 11. & 12. ver. Hereunto he ioyneth an example of y ^e vn­beliefe of y ^e Pharisees, shewing y ^t vnbe­lief is a most heinous offēce & wickednes. From the 12. vers. vnto 22. He commandeth his disciples to beware of the leauen of the Pharisees. Frō the 22. ver. vnto the 27 After­warde hee openeth the eies of a blind man, that it may appeare euen thereby, who o­peneth the eyes of the minde of the godly. From the 27 ver. vnto the 31 After this there is added an example of the true confession of the Christian faith. In the 31, 32 and 33. ver. Where the Lord discusseth many thinges touching y ^e misteries of faith, how saluatiō is procured for vs by his owne death: From the 33 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. & he reasoneth also of the denying of one his selfe, or of the mortification of the flesh. The 9. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto y ^e 14 Vnto these thinges is adioyned the transfiguration of the Lorde, that hereby all they, which contemne this present life, may haue a tast of the life to come. From the 14. ver. vnto the 30 [Page] Afterwarde it is shewed by a notable deede, that Iesus is the Messias the Sauiour of the worlde, whiche came to deliuer foorth of the power of y ^e Deuill y ^e faithfull beleeuers, which watch diligēt­ly with prayers and fastinges against his lying in wayte. From the 30 ver▪ vnto the 38 And now doth he also cō ­mend to his disciples, modestie & humility of mind, From the 38. ver. vnto the 42 admonishing the meane while, that wee condemne no man, or vtterlye cast of any: From the 42 verse vnto the end of the chap. where hee disputeth also of offence, and of y ^e necessitie and vse of corre­ction. The argumēt of the 10. & 11. chap. Now doth Saint Marke describe in certayne chapters, certaine chosen and woorthie speaches of the Lorde, vttered touching harde and very necessary points for the framing of holy life aright, that therby y ^e godly may learne, how to behaue thēselues godly in this world. The 10 cha. From the 1. ver. vnto the 13 And first he disputeth of mariage, which, being defi­led with y ^e traditiōs of y ^e pharisees, he pur­geth, restoring it to y ^e naturall perfection therof. From the 13 ver. vnto the 17 Thē, because childrē are y ^e fruite of mariage, in y ^e second place he intreateth of them, shewing what we should thinke of thē, as touching their saluation, teaching y ^t they must be brought to God. From the 17. ver. vnto the 23 In the thirde place is sette foorth the famous [Page] talke of the Lorde with a verye rich young man: whereby sundrye thinges are lear­ned: namely that God is the chiefe good: which is the way to heauen: how great y ^e misery and folly of man is. From the 23 ver. vnto the 28 For hee tea­cheth howe hardely riche men enter into the kingdome of God. From the 28 ver. vnto the 32 After this he in­treateth of the rewarde of vertues, and of their modestie, which receiue the rewards. In the 32, 33 and 34. verses. Foorthwith hee putteth his disciples in remembrance of the mysterie of his passiō. In y ^e 35, 36, and .37. verses. In y ^e same place it appeareth manifest­ly in the request of Iames and Iohn, how hawtie the fleshe is. For these two re­quest, that primacie may be graunted thē of the Lorde in the kingdome of Christ: In the 38, 39 and 40. verses. whom notwithstanding he so brideleth, From the 41. ver vnto the 46 that he weedeth out of the rest also ambi­tion and enuie, and soweth in them mode­stie and humilitie. From the 46. verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. As also in the history of Bartimeus he beateth into them faith. The 11. cha. Frō the first verse vnto the 12. After these things he entering into the citie of Hierusalem with royall pompe, sheweth that hee is the true and expected Messias, the king and priest of God his people. Frō the 15. verse vnto the 20. Therefore in discharge of his office he threwe the byers and sellers out [Page] of the temple. In the 13. and 14. verses. Foorthwith hee curseth the figge tree, wherein he shadoweth forth the sorowfull destinies of Ierusalem, From the 20 verse vnto the 27. & teacheth faith agayne. In the 27. & 28. verses. The Pharisees and the chiefe of the Iewes oppose them­selues against him, and aske him by what authoritie he doth that, which hee doeth? Frō the 29. verse vnto the end of the chap. Whom he beateth downe most mighte­ly with a contrary question. The 12. cha. From the 1. verse vnto the 13. Lastly he foresheweth them the iudgement of God, namely their destruction and casting of, which they shoulde suffer for their owne fault, & not because God is hard to please. From the 13. vers. vnto y ^e 35. Moreouer the Lorde answeareth with marueilous maiestie vnto certaine questi­ons very profitable and necessarie. From the 13. ver. vnto the 18 For first he reasoneth of the magistrate, com­maunding to pay vnto him, that whiche we owe him. From the 18. ver. vnto the 28 Then refuting the Sad­duces, beyng the patriarches of the Valē ­tinians, and of the Marcionites, he appro­ueth the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the worlde to come. From the 28. ver. vnto the 35 Afterwards he disputeth plainely of the ende and ar­gument of al the Scripture or of God his lawe. From the 35. ver. vnto the 38 Moreouer he proposeth a questi­on euen vnto his aduersaries, whereby he [Page] prooueth euidently, that hee is the true Messias, beeyng of a double nature, namely true GOD and man. In the 38, 39 & 40. ver. But because his aduersaries, I meane the priestes and scribes, woulde bee mo­ued with no plainenesse and manifestnesse of trueth, but went on continually like themselues, both to seduce the common people with their corrupt traditions, and to pill them with their vnsatiable desire of hauing, the Lorde admonisheth the com­mon people, and commaundeth them to beware of their doctrine. Besides all this he layeth manie and greate offences to their charges, and among the rest couetousnesse and sacrileges. From the 41 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. And yet least any shoulde thinke, that riches are bestowed in vayne for the mayntenance of the affaires of the Churche, hee doth much commende the gifte of a certayne widowe cast into the treasurie. The 13. cha. In the 1, & 2. verses. Last of all, hee foresheweth and payn­teth foorth the destruction and ruine of the most gorgious temple of Ierusalem, of the most auncient citie, and of all the worlde. From the 3. ver. vnto y ^e 33. Hee addeth also y ^e signes and calamities, which shoulde goe before, [Page] to foreshewe such euils as can not bee ex­pressed. From the 33 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. And because the Lord desireth to saue mankinde and not to destroy vs, hee exhorteth all men to prayers and watchfulnesse. Whereof Marke speaketh in the 14. and 15. chap. Nowe Marke com­meth to the absolute perfection of our saluation, namely to the description of the wholesome sacrifice, and of our redemption through Christ his death. The 14. cha. From the 1. verse vnto the 12. Wherein first hee reciteth the causes of his death, so farre foorth as apper­teyneth to the aduersaries of Christe, I meane the priestes and Iudas the tray­tour, whiche beeyng blinded with co­uetousnesse and enuie solde the Lorde for a moste vile price. From the 12 ver. vnto the 26 Then hee speaketh of that last supper, wherein the Lorde sharpely accuseth the wicked­nesse of Iudas speaking of it at large, and instituteth the sacrament and memo­riall of our redemption. In the 26. ver After that hee goeth foorth into the mount of o­liues, From the 27 ver. vnto y ^e 32. hee reasoneth in the waye of that greeuous offence, wherein the disciples shoulde fall, chiefly Peter. From the 32 ver. vnto the 43 Hee prayeth to his Father humblye in the mount, and awaketh his [Page] disciples sleeping. From the 43. ver. vnto the 47 The meane while Iudas commeth hastely with a bande of murderers, and betrayeth the Lorde with a kisse, who foorthwith is taken by the wicked mynisters. In the 47 ver In that hurlye burly Peter draweth his sworde, and figh­teth in vayne. From the 48. ver. vnto the 53 But the Lorde rebu­keth grauelye the vniust force of his e­nimies. In the 53. & 54. verses. Notwithstanding Christe is brought bounden to the high priest. The chiefe Bishoppe calleth foorthwith a counsell of elders and priestes against the Lorde. From the 55 ver. vnto the 60 Therein false witnesses are sought foorth to destroy Christ, but in vayne. From the 60. ver. vnto the 66 The high Priest rising vp, desireth to picke a cause of death by a question from Christ, and asketh, whether he be the sonne of God the true Messias? And when as the Lord had graunted it and confirmed it, iudgement of death was giuen out against him by all the councell. From the 66 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. The meane while Peter denieth the Lorde in the high priest his pallace. The 15. cha. In the 1. ver. And when the dawnyng was come, Iesus is leadde to Pilate the deputie. From the 2. ver. vnto the 12 But he trieth and practiseth many wayes, if hee might deliuer him, [Page] whom hee knewe to bee innocent. From the 12 ver. vnto the 22 But beyng ouercome with the wicked cries of the people, he deliuered Iesus be­ing scourged to the souldiers to bee cru­cified. From the 22. ver. vnto the 27 Hee is therefore lead awaye into the place of Caluarie, that is to saye of a skull, In the 27. & 28. verses. where hee is crucifi­ed in the middest betweene two theeues, From the 29. ver. vnto the 33 and hauing suffered both diuers tor­mentes and tauntes, From the 33. ver. vnto the 38 at the last hee gi­ueth vppe the Ghoste. From the 38. ver. vnto the 42 Foorthwith straunge signes are shewed, wherewith the Centurion beyng moued, pronoun­ceth Christ to be the sonne of GOD. Frō the 42. verse vnto the end of the chap. And in the euening of the same day he is buried most decently by Ioseph an honou­rable and a godlye man. The 16. cha. Frō the 1. ver. vnto the 9. But the thirde day hee riseth againe from the dead, hauing vanquished death, the which thing is expounded moste euidently by the an­gell to the women comming to the se­pulchre. Frō the 9. ver vnto the 15. Afterwards Marke, beeyng about to finishe briefely his historie begun of Christ, collecteth and knitteth together certayne sure argumentes, or euident te­stimonies, whereby hee may proue that the Lorde is risen in deede from the dead. [Page] From the 15 ver. vnto the 19 Last of all, hee setteth foorth the 3. chie­fest poyntes of our religion, that is to say the last deede of the Lorde, wherein hee ordayned the Ecclesiasticall order. In the 19. verse. Then hee sheweth the Ascension of the Lorde into heauen. In the 20. ver After this hee de­clareth the most exacte faithfulnesse of the Apostles of the Lorde, and the happie successe thereof. For they did all things so as the Lorde had commaunded, and the Lorde wrought with them, so y ^t foorth­with the most holy Church rose vp in the worlde.

IN the preface placed before this Euangeli­call worke, The 1. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto the 5 Luke shew­eth the causes, whiche mooued him to write, and also proposeth the summe of his whole purpose. In the 5, 6, and 7. verses. Then hee beginneth to penne the historie, beginning it with the birth of the forerunner of the Messias. There­fore hee describeth diligently the parentes of Iohn Baptist, From the 8. ver. vnto the 18 chiefly howe both the conception and the office of the sonne were shewed to his father by Gabriel. Frō the 18. ver. vnto the 23 whiche thinges when as his father belee­ued not, it came to passe, that hee was made dumbe, for the punishment of his vn­beleefe, In the 23, 24 & 25. verses. & y ^t his mother notwithstanding, God performing y ^t which he had promised, did conceaue. In the 26. verie. Now after the description of the conceptiō of y ^t forerunner, he cōmeth downe to describe the incarnation of the [Page] very Messias also. Therefore after the noting of the time, In the 27. ver hee sheweth the kinred and condition of his mother, namelie that shee was a pure virgin of the stocke of Dauid: In the 26. ver vnto whom the very same Gabriel beyng the messenger of the eternall GOD came downe from heauen, From the 28. ver. vnto the 32 and shewed her that it so plea­sed the eternall Godhead, that shee shoulde bee made y ^e mother of the Mes­sias: In the 32. and 33. verses. and hee declareth heerewith­all, who, and howe greate this childe shoulde be. In the 34. ver And whereas the Vir­gine did not yet fully vnderstand so harde a matter, In y ^e 35. ver. the whole reason and maner of the incarnation is expounded vnto her by the Angell, that shee shoulde conceiue by the holy Ghost, and bring foorth the very sonne of GOD. In the 36 and 37. verses. And shee is confirmed by the example of Elizabeth. In the 38. verse. The which woordes when as shee be­leeueth, shee conceiueth. From the 39 ver. vnto the 46 And foorth­with shee goeth with all speede to Eli­zabeth, & they two haue diuine talke the one with the other. From the 46. ver. vnto the 57 In this communica­tion the incarnation of the sonne of God is reuealed, & y ^e truth of God, his mercie [Page] and his power are praysed, chiefly in the virgin Maries song of prayse and thanks­giuing. From the 57. ver. vnto y ^e 59. Moreouer Elizabeth bringeth forth a sonne, From the 59. ver. vnto the 64 who is named Iohn. From the 64. ver. vnto the 67 Vn­to his father, hytherto dumbe for his vnbe­leefe, is nowe restored the vse of his tongue, which hee vseth foorthwith in set­ting foorth the prayses of God. From the 67. ver. vnto the 76 For hee also singeth a song of praises, wherein he prayseth the truth of God in his promises, his goodnes & iustice in his deedes. In the 76. & 77. verses. Thē he prophesieth certaine thinges of the of­fice of his sonne, From the 78. ver. vnto the end of the chapter. and of the benefites to be bestowed vpon y ^e world through Christ. The 2. chap. The argumēt of the chapter. Which things being finished, Luke breaketh of the historie concerning Iohn, & maketh hast to describe the natiuitie of Christ. In the 1.2. & 3. verses. Therefore he sheweth the time, In the 4. & 5. verses. and describeth the place of the natiuitie of the Lord, In the 6. & 7 verses and the maner therof. From the 8. ver. vnto 13. And the angell appeareth againe, & publisheth the birth of the Messias to the shepherds, and expoundeth vnto them the fruite of his natiuitie. In the 13. & 14. verses. In the which place all the heauenly host flocketh together with mer­ueylous thankefull reioycing, singing a birth songue to their newe borne King. [Page] In the 15. verse. And the shepheardes seeke the childe, which was borne, with great diligence, as they were commaunded, In the 16. ver they finde him, Frō the 17. verse vnto the 21. they wonder, and publish to all men the greate workes of God. In the 21. ver Nowe the childe is circumcised the eight day, and is named IESVS. In the 22.23 and 24. verses. Then he is presented also vn­to the Lord in the temple of Hierusalē af­ter the maner of the first begotten sonnes. From the 25. ver. vnto the 34 Whereby God his ordinance Simeon the iust commeth in, which receiueth the little childe into his armes, reioyseth, & in reioysing sheweth howe great things the Father hath giuen vs in his sonne: In y ^e 34, & 35 verses. & therewithal he prophesieth of his crosse, & y ^e many should stumble at him through vnbeliefe. From the 36 ver. vnto the 40 And there is also Anne a wi­dowe of most commendable life, which al­so herselfe giueth thankes to God, and prayseth the great benefite of the father in the sonne giuen vnto vs. From the 40. ver. vnto the 51 Afterwards Luke toucheth in fewe wordes the child­hood, grouth, and youth of Christe the Lorde. For he declareth howe hee bee­ing twelue yeres of age, beeing sought by his parentes sorowfully, was founde in the Temple among the Doctors, dispu­ting [Page] so of the chiefest pointes of religion, that all wondered at it. In the 51, & 52 verses. Whereunto hee addeth, that, leauing the disputation, he was obediēt vnto his parents: leauing it as it were to be esteemed by these most assured tokens, of what sort al his growe­ing and young age was. And thus hath Luke comprehended in a merueilous brief summe whatsoeuer seemeth to be profita­ble and necessarie to bee knowen and to be beleeued touching the Parentage of Christ, his childhood, his grouth, & youth. What went before. In the two chapters before going there is an entrance made into the matter han­deled in this Gospell: What follow­eth. But nowe Luke setteth foorth the beginning of the Go­spel, the wonderfull progresse and successe thereof, The 3. cha. In the first & 2 verses. shewing at what time, In the 2. & 3 verses. in what place, In the 2. and 3 verses. by whome, and howe, both Christ himselfe and his Gospel was prea­ched openly, namely by Iohn Baptist, In the 3 verse also. which baptized and taught in a great as­sembly of men. From the 4. verse vnto y ^e 10. And hee giueth foorth certaine tastes of the preaching of S. Iohn what he taught al men generally, Frō the 10. verse vnto the 15. what certain mē particularly, From the 15. ver. vnto the 19 to be brief what he taught, & what things he witnessed of [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] In the 19 & 20 verses Lastly, he noteth, that for the preaching of the truth, he was cast into prisō by king Herod. Wherof he speaketh next. Which thinges being in deede briefly knit together, (& yet in such sort as might be sufficient for the godly Reader) hee passeth ouer to the description of the affayres of the Sauiour himselfe our Lorde Iesus Christe, whose forerunner Iohn was: In the 21. and 22. verses. and foorthwith in the be­ginning hee teacheth, who hee was, and howe great thinges wee haue from him, he was anointed and authorised, by the fa­ther, the King and Priest of the people of god, namely in that he was anoynted with the holy Ghoste, that hee is the sonne of of God and of man, From the 23. ver. vnto the end of the chapter. for the which cause hee draweth foorth along his genealogie or pedegrue euen vnto Adam. The 4. cha. From the first ver. vnto the 14 More­ouer our Lorde being authorised in his function, and kingdome, and Priesthood, according to his office beginneth nowe to work our saluation, and first setting vpon Satan, hee ouercommeth him in an harde conflict, & at the last putteth him to flight. In the 14. & 15. verses. And being a conquerour hee commeth foorth and publisheth the Gospell of the kingdome and of deliuerance throughout [Page] all Galilee. From the 16 ver. vnto the 22. Hee hath left described an excellent tast of his preaching, namely his sermō made in y ^e city Nazareth. Frō the 22. ver, vnto the 31 But whē as his wholesome doctrine was not so re­ceiued of the Citizens of Nazareth, as had becomed them, leauing them, In the 31. & 32 verses. hee went to the famous citie Capernaum, where hee teacheth againe. The vse of my­racles. And he ioyneth cer­taine wonderfull deedes to his doctrine, whereby he approued y ^t which hee taught, namely y ^t he is the Sauiour of the world. From the 33 ver. vnto the 38 Therefore hee deliuereth a man posses­sed with a Diuell by casting out the deuil: In the 38. & 39. verses. hee restoreth to health Peter his wiues mother, which was sick of a feuer: In the 40. & 41, verses. and to be briefe he cureth all kinde of diseases: In the 42.43. & 44. ver. But the meane while he preacheth the go­spel diligently: The 5. cha. From the first ver. vnto the 12 the which because his will is, y ^t it should be preached cōtinually in the Church, he chooseth to himself cer­taine witnesses, whō he draweth vnto him by working of a myracle. From the 12 ver. vnto the 17 Hee declareth againe by his workes y ^t he is the Sauiour of the worlde. For he cleanseth a Leper: From the 17. verse vnto the 27. He healeth a man sick of a palsie, in whom also he declareth y ^t he forgiueth sinnes to mē. From the 27 vers. vnto the 33 And therfore he calleth & iustifieth a [Page] notable Publicane, Leui, and defendeth him iustified, and himselfe also from the malicious detractions of his enemies. In the 33.34 & 35. verses. Where hee ioyneth aptly certaine dispu­tations of fasting and prayers, Frō the 36. verse vnto the end of the chap. of fit and vnfit hearers of the Gospell, The 6 chap. From the first ver. vnto the 12. of the Sabboth and of holy dayes, whereby hee reproueth errours and abuses, and resto­ring the true doctrine, maintaineth the same. Why the A­postles were called. Hytherto our Lorde & Redeemer Christe was made knowen vnto his Dis­ciples, called for this purpose peculiarlie, that they might be instructed and made the masters and teachers of all the nations in the earth, From the 12 ver. vnto y ^e 17. vnto them hee adioyneth now certaine other also, all the which he con­secrating commaundeth to bee Apostles, that is to say Legates or Ambassadours, whome at the last hee might sende into the worlde. In the 17.18 & 19. verses. But before he sendeth them foorth, he instructeth them more fully and more familiarly. For hee declareth againe to them, who he is, what he is able to doe, marking foorth moreouer what kinde of doctrine they shoulde followe. For in his deedes hee sheweth diuine vertue: From the 20 verse vnto the 24. and in his woordes hee teacheth which is the [Page] true doctrine, which is the true felicitie, In the 24.25 & 26. verses. which is infelicitie, From the 27. verse vnto the 39. which are the du­ties of godlinesse of the faithfull, and that the Lorde doth exact most perfect iustice of his seruantes. For Luke setteth downe the whole Sermon of the Lorde made in the great assembly of men, and in the middest of his Disciples. From the 39. vers. vnto y ^e 46. In the which Sermon among other things, the Lorde warneth vs diligently, that we be­ware of false teachers, of whom hee reaso­neth not vndiligently, From the 46. vers. vnto the end of the chap. adding in the end of the Sermon, that it is not enough to heare the worde of God, except wee doe expresse in godly deedes, that which wee haue learned in the woorde. The 7. chap. The vse of myracles. Vn­to this Sermon of the Lorde Luke ioy­neth againe deedes, whereby the Lorde sheweth his sauing vertue. From the 1. ver. vnto the 11 For hee restoreth the Centurion his Ser­uant. From the 11. ver. vnto the 18 Then hee rayseth vp from the dead the sonne of a certaine widowe of Nain, shewing thereby that hee is the Lord of life & death. In the 18.19 and 20. verses. And the Disciples of Iohn are there, & propose a question to the Lorde: In the 21.22 & 23. verses. by occasion whereof hee [Page] declareth him selfe to bee that looked fo Messias. From the 24 ver. vnto the 29 And then he extolleth Iohn w ^t most ample prayses, that hee might moue the more to beleeue his witnes, which cō ­stantly witnessed that Iesus was Christe. From the 29 verse vnto the 36. Lastly hee most sharply reprooueth the want of beliefe of the Pharisees, whereby he sheweth, that it came to passe, y ^t they pe­rished through their owne vice and fault. From the 36 verse vnto the ende of the chapter. Forthwith he addeth an example, wher­by it may euidētly appeare, how y ^e Phari­sees trusting too much in thē selues refuse Christ, & howe sinners beleeuing receiue him, & there is brought in a sinfull womā, vnto whō her sinnes be freely forgiuē, the Pharisees speaking much against it. The 8. chap. Frō the 1. ver. vnto the 22. These thinges being in this maner sette foorth, Luke bringeth in againe the Lorde teaching, and the people flocking to him in very great companies, whereby they giue him occasiō to teach by a similitude, what y ^e nature of the word of God is, what diuersitie there is of hearers, and that hee doth not approue all hearers, but thē only which bring forth fruite. From the 22 verse vnto y ^e 26 After these thinges is placed the description of a tem­pest, and howe a calme was restored [Page] by the Lorde to the disciples, which were merueilously troubled, who here also, as well as other where often, doeth declare, that he hath power ouer tempests, From the 26. ver. vnto y ^e 41. and that he is the conquerour of Satan. For with no weapons, but with his word only he casteth out and putteth to flight all the legion of Deuils. From the 41. ver. vnto the 49 Moreouer hee hea­leth a certaine woman beeing troubled with an issue of blood, whiche coulde not bee cured, From the 49. ver. vnto the end of the chapter. and rayseth from the dead Iairus his daughter. In all these things hee instructeth in true faith and godlines the mindes of the faithfull, and chiefly of his disciples, The 9. chap. In the 1. & 2 verses. whom, being nowe a good while instructed, hee sendeth forth at the last to the office of preaching, From the 3. ver. vnto y ^e 10. gi­uing them certaine peculier preceptes, whiche prescribed vnto them howe they shoulde behaue them selues. In the 10. ver And the Lorde very frendly receiueth them retur­ning and hauing dispatched their businesse happely, In the 11. ver instructing them nowe more fully, that he might prepare thē for grea­ter matters, and confirme them in the trueth. From the 12 ver. vnto y ^e 18. Hee maketh the people a feast. In the 18. and 19. verses. He asketh, whome the people say that [Page] he is, In the 20. verse. and what the disciples thinke of him: In y ^e 20 ver. also, and in the 21, and 22. verses. where the confession of a true faith is set foorth. From the 23 ver. vnto the 28 In the same place he teacheth the denying of ones selfe: From the 28 ver. vnto the 37 and is transformed in the sight of the cho­sen disciples. From the 37 ver. vnto the 44 And he ouercometh and putteth to flight againe the Deuill rebelling and most fiercely raging. In the 44 & 45. verses. Hee intreateth of his passion and death: In the 46 47. & 48 ver. And forthwith hee teacheth most diligently his disciples humilitie & modestie, & he pluck­eth vp by the roote ambition and pride. In the 49. and 50 verses. where he teacheth also that no man is to be contemned or reiected, whiche by any maner of meanes seteth forward the glo­rie of Christ. And in this wise did he in­struct thē, whom he purposed to make the teachers of the worlde, & in thē the whole church. What follow­eth. Hitherto blessed Luke hath decla­red copiously & plainely enough, what the Lorde saide and did in Galilee, but hence­forth he will shew the Lord his iourney to the fatal citie of Hierusalem, what fell out in the way, what he taught, and what won­derfull and famous thinges he did. In the 51.52, & 53. ver. And in the beginning of the iourney the Samaritanes denie the Lorde lodging, [Page] In the 54.55, & 56. ver. but the disciples, which desired that their vncourtesie might bee punished, are re­prooued of the Lorde as inflamed with preposterous zeale. In the 57 & 58 verses. Then the Lord repelleth a certaine other man offering the Lorde friendship: Frō the 59. verse vnto the end of the chap­ter. Forthwith cal­ling two other, hee teacheth howe he will be receiued, and howe he must bee folow­ed. The 10. chapter. In the 1. verse. Moreouer that the wholesome doc­trine of the Gospell might bee made kno­wen to the more, he chooseth to him selfe more disciples. For vnto those twelue he adioyneth moreouer other seuenty. These he sent before two & two into euery place whether he himselfe would come. From the 2 ver. vnto the 17 Into them he giueth certaine preceptes, and by that meanes hee beginneth againe to in­treate of teachers, and of the doctrine of the Gospel. In the 17 ver The disciples faithfully do y ^e cōmandements, & returning declare vn­to the Lorde, howe happely their businesse fell out. Here he sheweth, that the king­dome of the deuill is destroyed by prea­ching of the Gospell: In the 18, 19 and 20 ver. hee teacheth his disciples humilitie least they shoulde bee puffed vp with pride through the happie handelyng of their affayres: [Page] In the 21. ver and forthwith hee sheweth who are ca­pable of the worde of the Gospel, In the 22. ver and why all thinges are giuen vnto Christ on­ly by the preaching of the Gospell, In the 23. & 24. verses. also howe great their happinesse is, which be­leeue the Gospell of Christe. In the 25. ver. And bee­ing aptly asked by a certaine lawyer, what he shoulde do, that he might obtayne euer­lasting life, In the 26. verse. he teacheth plainely, which is the syncere doctrine, In the 27 verse. which is the onely and certayne ende of the scripture, In the 28. verse. which is the true preaching of the truth, whiche the teacher of the Gospell shoulde deliuer to the Church, From the 29. ver. vnto y ^e 38. where hee doth chiefly teach vs the loue of our neighbour by bringing in a parable of a man slayne by theeues, In the 38.40. & 41. ver. and by commending the dueties of Martha, In the 39, & 42. verses. before whome the meane season hee preferreth the faith of Marie. The 11. cha. From the 1. ver. vnto the 14 And because prayer in the Churche is nexte to the preaching of the worde, and as it were adioyned therevnto, therefore doth he also intreat therof large­ly and diligently. From the 14 verse vnto the 27. Forthwith by cast­ing forth and conquering the Diuell, hee declareth, which of the pointes of the Gos­pell is chiefe, that he came into the worlde [Page] to ouercome the Diuell, and to destroye his workes: and that he doth and sayeth al thinges, not furnished with arte Magike, or forced by the power of Satan, but tho­rowe the power of God, seeing he is the sonne of God and the true Messias. In the 27 & 28 verses. He returneth againe to the commendation of the preaching of the Gospell, From th 29. ver. vnto y ^e 33 where he doeth most grauely accuse the neglecting and contemning of the worde of God, and the vnbeliefe of the Iewes. From the 33 ver. vnto the 37 Moreouer he sheweth, what the word of God is, why it is reueled to men, howe great the wor­thinesse, profitablens, and necessitie there­of is. From the 37 verse vnto the end of the chap. Ouer against the which is direct­ly placed false doctrine, and the Pharisees and false teachers are most sharply chidde of the Lorde, The 12. chapter. In in the 1.2, & 3, verses. whose doctrine at the last he most diligently commandeth to be­ware of. From the 4. ver vnto the 13 And because that can not bee done without the hatred of the worlde, hee exhorteth his disciples also to boldnesse & constantnes, not to be in feare for them selues, but to behaue them selues stoutly, and to confesse the trueth freely. From the 13 ver. vnto y ^e 35. The desire of gaine, and chiefly couetousnesse, doth hinder and trouble syncere religion, [Page] the Lord therefore bringing many things against couetousnes, teacheth euery man to be content with his owne estate: From the 35 ver. vnto the 41 he setteth foorth againe watchfulnesse and sobernesse of minde, necessarie for all tru­ly, but for the apostles chiefly, From the 41 ver. vnto the 49 vnto whō, by proposing a similitude, hee shadoweth forth againe their duetie, From the 49 verse vnto the 54. adding againe what the effect of the woorde of God is, From the 54 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. and admonishing vs, that we doe not con­temne the signes of our saluation, but that wee receiue it with most redie minds. What went before. In the chapters before going the Lord intreated of many thinges, by the report of Luke the historian, touching the Gospel and the preachers of the Gospel. Nowe the Gospell standeth of Repentaunce and Forgiuenesse of sinnes, as of the partes thereof. What follow­eth. And therefore here followeth a most wholesome doctrine of Repentance & forgiuenes of sinnes. The 13. cha. From the 1. ver. vnto the 6. He exhorteth vs to repentance by examples, From the 6 ver. vnto the 10 and by a cer­taine similitude of a figge tree, teaching what lighteth vpō the impenitēt, From the 10 ver. vnto the 14. & what be the fruits of true repentance, From the 14 ver. vnto the 18 & what the corrupt fruits of false repentāce: From the 18 ver vnto the 23 He sheweth moreouer from whēce the power [Page] to bring forth the fruites of repentaunce & to doe good works is. From the 23 verse vnto the end of the chap. Forthwith he ex­horteth vs all, that we would indeuour to enter through the staight and harde way, which leadeth vnto life. For he disputeth againe of that most famous two wayes, bringing in somewhat touching the pu­nishment of the impenitent, and concer­ning the equitie of the iudgementes of God, which destroyeth the incurable, whō no faithfull dealing and diligence coulde heale. The 14. cha. Then hee taketh from the louers of godlinesse errours & certaine no light faultes, and teacheth them the dueties of godlinesse. From the 1 ver. vnto the 7. For he remoueth againe the error of the Sabboths religious obserua­tion. From the 7. ver. vnto the 12 He presseth downe the pride & lof­tines of y ^e Pharisees, & graffeth in modest humilitie: In the 12, 13 and 14. ver. & teacheth vs also bountiful­nes. From the 15 verse vnto the 24. Herevpō taking occasion by y ^e out­crie of a certaine gest, which pronounced him blessed, y ^t may eate breade in the king­dome of God, he exhorteth al men to faith, least they make them selues vnworthy the kingdom of god through vnbeliefe: where y ^e Lord setteth forth also the coūsel of God touching y ^e sauing of y ^e world, y ^t w ^t he saith is despised of certaine through the desire [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] of thinges present, In the 24. ver vnto whome also he threatneth punishment. And these things hath he spoken of those whiche hinder the calling of God: Frō the 25. verse vnto the ende of y ^e chap. On the contrarie parte he opposeth the doctrine, how we ought to followe the Lord calling vs, & to obey his calling: that is to say, of what sort the dis­ciples of y ^e Lord ought to be, & what they ought to promise to thēselues by y ^e gospel. The 15 chap From the be­ginning of the chap. to the end. vnto these things he knitteth certaine most comely similitudes, whereby he de­clareth againe the reason of true repen­taunce, yea and the reason of the forgiue­nesse of sinnes chiefly, namely of the grace and vnmeasurable mercie of God, reproo­uing euery where the pride and hypocri­sie of They may be called Iustitia­ries, which hold that a man may be iustified by his own works. Iustitiaries. The 16. cha. In the whole chapter. After these things he reasoneth plentifully of the duties of the faithfull, to witte, of charitie, and boun­tifulnesse towardes our neighbours, to be breefe of the contempt of earthly thinges, against couetousnesse, in the behalfe of pi­tifulnesse, & of the vse and abuse of earth­ly thinges. And all these thinges doeth he shadowe foorth, and as it were propose to be vewed with our eyes in the parables of the false stewarde, and of the rich glut­ton, [Page] and of Lazarus the begger. The 17. cha. The occasion of that which followeth. There be not a fewe wicked men, vnto whome, whatsoeuer is preached concerning hea­uen and hell, seeme fables, and they in­fect successiuely not a few with their poy­soned and blasphemous tongues. In the 1. and 2. verses. Our Lorde sheweth therefore consequently howe great their offence is before God. In the 3. and 4. verses. Agayne he teacheth thee to forgiue tres­passes if any bee committed against thee. In the 5. and 6. verses. The which thing because it can not bee done without the help of faith, wholesome doctrine touching faith is forthwith adioy­ned. From the 7 ver. vnto the 12 After the which he placeth streight way doctrine touching the same, that wee ascribe nothing vnto our selues, but yeeld all the glorie to the Lorde: who onely pur­geth vs, and giueth vs strength to worke good workes, for y ^e which cause we ought to giue him great thankes. From the 12 verse vnto the 20. And this point is set foorth, as it were to be vewed with our eyes, in the historie of the tenne leapers, which were cleansed. From the 20. ver. vnto y ^e 26. Now be­cause there is mention made very often times of y ^e kingdome of God throughout all this historie, y ^e matter is handeled more plainly. From the 26 ver. vnto y ^e 31. Then is it adioyned, what they [Page] shall suffer, which wil not beleeue that the kingdome of God is come. From the 31 ver. vnto the end of the chap. Moreouer it is shewed, what troubles and calamities shall come to passe in the worlde, euen vn­to the ende of the worlde, and howe the faithfull ought to beare them selues in the same. The 18. cha. From the first ver. vnto the 6 Where he exhorteth his dis­ciples earnestly to most feruent prayers, In the 6.7. and 8 verses. promising that God also will auenge his elect. From the 9. ver. vnto the 15 And because there were many, which trusted in them selues, he proposeth the parable of the Pharisee and the Pub­licane, which went vp into the temple, and teacheth which is true righteousnes, and howe men are iustified. In the 15.16. & 17. ver. Which thinge being expounded, he instructeth vs, what we should thinke of y ^e saluatiō of infants: From the 18 verse vnto the 23. What good thing euery one should doe, that hee may possesse the kingdome of God: From the 23 ver. vnto the 28 howe hardly rich men enter into the kingdome of GOD: In the 28, 29. & 30 ver. what inwarde is prepared for them, that leaue their worldly substance for the Lord his sake: From the 31 ver. vnto the 35 In the same place the Lorde sheweth his disciples what hee him selfe must suffer. From the 35 verse vnto the end of the chap. Then followeth the historie of the blind man, which receiued his sight, [Page] The 19. cha. From the 1. verse vnto the 11. & the calling of Zacheus that famous Publicane, and his receiuing into the fa­uour of Christ: whereby wee are taught, how all men are illuminated, receiued in­to fauour, and iustified, and what they, which are iustified, shoulde worke, or howe they shoulde behaue them selues towards God, and towardes their neighbours. The occasion of the parable following. Our Lorde Iesus executed the priest his office all the time of his dispensation, but chiefly in those last dayes, wherein he ful­ly finished our saluation by dying and ry­sing againe. Therefore the nearer hee commeth vnto the citie, the more plainely he declareth him selfe to bee the king and priest of God his people, and thorowely doth the office of the priest and king. And first, because there were some euē among his owne disciples, which supposed that the kingdome of Christ should be earthly, and that it shoulde rise vp forthwith, the Lorde taketh away this errour, Frō the 11. verse vnto the 28. and teacheth by a similitude what maner of kingdome the kingdome of Christe is, and when it shall come.

From the 28 ver. vnto the 41Foorthwith sitting vppon an Asse, [Page] and being caried into the citie, hee decla­reth by that his glorious comming, al­though it were humble, that he is that ex­pected king of the people of God. From the 41 ver. vnto the 45 And yet before he entereth into the citie he be­wayleth with teares the destenies and ca­lamities of the blinde citie, which hee fore­sheweth most plainely, and declareth the cause of the calamities. From the 45 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. And because it is the duetie of a king, to restore decaies, and to reforme corruptions, beyng en­tred into the Temple, hee casteth out the buyers and sellers, and hee him selfe preacheth dayly in the Temple. The 20 chap From the 1. ver. vnto the 9. Be­ing asked of the Priestes by whome hee was authorised a King and a Priest? hee sheweth that hee hath all his authoritie from God foorth of heauen. From the 9. verse vnto y ^e 19 Moreo­uer hee rebuketh most grauely the rebel­lions, by bringing in the parable of the vineyarde and of the husbandemen, sha­dowing foorth the meane while the de­struction, whiche hanged ouer them, for their rebellion. Where of he speaketh in the rest of the chap. To bee breefe, forso­much as it belongeth to the Priest his of­fice to teache the people of GOD, and to confute the gayne-sayers, Luke pla­ceth [Page] after these thinges certayne disputa­tions and familiar speaches of the Lorde had with his aduersaries. Frō the 19. ver. vnto the 27 And first hee teacheth what wee owe to God, and what to the Magistrate. From the 27 verse vnto the 41. Then he reasoneth of the hope of the Saintes, and what ma­ner of life is in the worlde to come. From the 41 ver. vnto the 45 Thirdly, hee sheweth what onely is to bee looked for in all the Scriptures, namely Christ true GOD and man the sauiour of the world. From the 45 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. Which thinges being fi­nished the Lorde paynteth foorth, in dis­charge of his priestly office, counterfayte priestes, of whose corruption hee diligent­ly admonisheth his disciples to beware, and to auoyde. The 21. cha. From the first ver. vnto the 5. Afterwarde he allow­eth the widowes gift cast into the treasu­rie in the temple. From the 5. ver. vnto the 25 Where he taketh oc­casion to intreate most plentifully of y ^e de­struction of the citie & nation of y ^e Iewes. From the 25. ver. vnto the 34 From that destruction he commeth to the destruction also of all the world, and to the ende of the worlde, and to be briefe defineth & pointeth forth the signes going next before the last day. From the 34. verse vnto the ende of the chapter. Where he ex­horteth most diligētly y ^e faithful to watch­fulnes & sobernes, least they be ouerthowē [Page] of a sodaine with the vnfaythfull, & perish. The 22. chap What went before & what foloweth. The Lorde hath hetherto fulfilled all the priestlike functions euen vnto the kil­ling and offering vp of the sacrifice, there­fore the expiatorie and purging sacrifice only remained to be accomplished: where­fore Luke will describe by those thinges, which followe, the passion and death of the Lorde, which is the onely and wholesome oblation once offred for the sinnes of al the worlde. In the 1. ver. And first he noteth the time, From the 2, ver. vnto the 7 then he sheweth the causes of his death: From the 7. ver. vnto the 17 herevpon he toucheth how he celebrated y ^e passeouer: From the 17 vnto the 21. after which he placeth y ^e wor­thie institution of his mysticall supper. In the 21.22 & 23 ver. He addeth, what the Lorde spake of him y ^t betrayed him: From the 23 ver. vnto the 31 & how he quieted the con­tentiō of y ^e disciples, raysed touching this, which of them seemed greatest in y ^e king­dom of God. From the 31 ver. vnto the 35 He foresheweth the earnest purpose of the diuell against all the disci­ples, & namely against Peter the denier. From the 35 verse vnto y ^e 39 Forthwith he cōmandeth them to prouide them swords: In the 39. and 41. ver. & taking his disciples vnto him, he goeth out with his chosen vnto the mount of Oliues. In the 41. and 42 verses. Here he prayeth vnto the father most feruently. From the 43 ver. vnto y ^e 47 There he is [Page] tormēted with an agonie, which wringeth frō him a bloody sweat. He receiueth cō ­fort of an angell. In the 47. and 48 verses. After this he is takē & bounden by the priests seruants: In the 49. and 50 verses. which when Peter would haue withstood, he cut off the priest his seruant his eare: In the 51. verse. but y ^e Lord healeth him being wounded, In the 52 and 53. verses. and most sharply rebuketh them which tooke him. In the 54 ver Moreouer being taken he is led in­to the citie, & brought before y ^e high priest. From the 55. ver. vnto 63 Then did Peter shamefully deny y ^e Lord & that not once. In the 63.64. & 65 ver. The seruants of y ^e high priests & of wickednes mocke the Lord al­most all the night long, & abuse him most vnworthily. From the 66. ver. vnto the end of the chapter. Earely in the morning he is condemned by the senate of the priests & of the chiefe of Hierusalem. The 23 cha. In the 1. ver. Being cō ­demned he is deliuered to Pilate, From the 2. ver. vnto the 6. cer­tayne pointes of accusatiō being proposed forthwith against him. In the 6. & 7. verses. Pilate willing to gratifie Herode, sendeth the Lorde away vnto him. From the 8. ver. vnto the 13 But he sendeth him back be­ing notably mocked and clothed with a white garment, to Pilate. Frō the 13. ver. vnto the 26 He, after much reasoning had with y ^e Iewes, & after y ^t he had loosed Barrabbas, deliuered Iesus to y ^e ministers of wickednes do be crucified. [Page] In the 26. ver Therefore is he led away forthwith be­ing innocent, bearing his crosse, & behinde him one Simon following him, and stay­ing vp the same crosse. In the 27. verse. Certaine godly women lament his most bitter case. From the 28. ver. vnto the 32 But the Lorde, this occasion beyng offe­red, commaundeth them to lament their owne calamitie, whiche hee foresheweth shall come vpon the citie and people. In the 32. & 33. verses. The meane while hee commeth into the place of execution, where hee being cruci­fied is lift vp in the middest betweene two theeues. From the 34 ver. vnto the 40 There hee first prayeth, and then suffering many reproches, hee dea­reth all thinges paciently. From the 40 ver. vnto the 44 Among other things, he receiueth one of the thee­ues, whiche made supplication vnto him, into the felowship and partaking of eter­nal life, declaring by y ^t exāple, how great the force of the sacrifice once offered is. In the 44.45 & 46 verses After this certaine wonders followed te­stifiyng, that the Sonne of God suffered. The Lord commending his spirit to God the father gaue vp the ghost vpon y ^e crosse. In the 47. ver The Centurion of y ^e Romane souldiers being moued w ^t the wonders, & touched w ^t the patiēce & death of Christ, doth witnes that he was a iust man. In the 48. & 49. verses. The Lord his [Page] acquaintaunce see all these thinges, God his prouidence no doubt so ordering the matter, that they might be seeing wit­nesses, appointed for so great thinges. From the 50. ver. vnto y ^e 55. Lastly Ioseph, a most famous Senatour of the citie, commeth vnto Pilate, and beg­geth the body of the Lorde, that he might burie it: which when he had obtained and taken it downe from the tree, hee laid it in the graue, and buried it gloriously. In the 55. & 56. verses. Cer­taine women behelde and marked it, that they might come the next day following to annoynt the body. The 24. cha. What follow­eth. Iesus Christ our King & Priest, hauing purged sinne, conquered hell, and ouercome death, restored to life foorth of the graue & from the dead, the third day, riseth againe a con­querer and a triumphant Lorde. And because the whole matter of our hope and life standeth in the liuely resurrection of our Lorde Iesus, it is prooued by euident signes and arguments. From the first ver. vnto 12. And first the re­surrection of our Lord is declared by the very Angels of God to certaine deuout women, which came to annoynt the body of our Lorde Iesus. In the 12 verse. Foorthwith the same is made knowen to Peter by cer­taine signes. From the 13. ver. vnto the 36 Afterwardes, as two of [Page] the Disciples were going to Emaus, the Lorde ioyneth him selfe vnto them in the fourme of a stranger, and proueth vnto them most plainely, as well foorth of the Scriptures, as by the thing it selfe, that he was risen againe from the dead. From the 36. ver. vnto the 44 Last­ly, the Lord commeth in the middest of his Disciples, and sheweth to the viewe of eye his true and liuely resurrection. In the 44.45 and 46. verses. Moreouer hee confirmeth their mindes with the Scriptures. In the 47. & 48. verses. And that wee might all vnderstand, that all Christe his things are ours, he commaundeth his dis­ciples to preach the Gospel to all nations, In the 49. verse. for the accomplishing wherof he promi­seth them the holy Ghost, whom hee com­maundeth them to looke for in the Citie of Hierusalem. In the 50. verse. All the which things bee­ing done in deed, he leadeth his disciples foorth to the mount of Oliues, In the 51. verse. from thence he ascendeth straight into heauen. In the 52. & 53. verses. The disciples hauing worshipped him, returne into the Citie looking for the ho­ly Ghost.

THey, The 1. chap. The reason of the entrance in­to the Gospel by Iohn. which will ex­pound any thing by cer­taine reason and with great profite, place be­fore their exposition a proposition, a marke, or a Summe of the whole matter to bee expounded, vnto the which the auditours bending the sharpenesse of wit, and all their vnderstanding, may knowe where­vnto all things tende, which are spoken, and what the vse of them is. What Iohn handeleth in his Gospell. Iohn the Apostle therefore about to expounde y ^e matters of Christ the Lorde, that is to say, his wordes and deedes, and all the mysterie of our redemption, placeth be­fore his historical narration a proposition, plentifully opened, & containing in effect these things. In the 1. and 2. verses. The word of God, that is to say, the sonne of God, Iesus Christ our Lorde, of whom I minde to speake, was [Page] with God from euerlasting, and is very God, In the 3. ver. by whom all thinges were made, In the 4.5.7 and 8. verses. the same by his owne nature is the life & the light. In the 9. ver. And because wee, by our humane nature, and through the fault of sinne, bee darkenesse & the slaues of death, the worde, or sonne of God descended frō heauen, came into the world, was incarnat and made man, that through his life and light, the Iewes chiefly, vnto whome the Messias was peculiarly promised, might liue and bee illuminated. In the 10. & 11. verses. But because they cast him off, not beeing wil­ling to beleeue the life and light giuen them, In the 12.13 & 14. verses. therefore he gaue power to all men which receiue Christe with a true faith, of what nation, sexe, age, or conditiō they be, to become the sonnes of God, that is to say, heires of life and of all heauen­ly good things, and the very fellow heires of Christ, which is the truth, the grace, the redemption, and the fulnesse, or the con­summation of all beleeuers, in whom on­ly the faithfull haue all thinges, which do pertaine to godlinesse and life. The summe of the Gospell. This is the summe of all the narration of the Go­spell: Namely, that through faith in [Page] Christe our sinnes bee forgiuen, and that euerlasting life is bestowed vpon vs. In the 6. ver. and from the 15 vnto the 19. Vnto this head Iohn coupleth y ^e very body of the Euangelicall narration or historie, beginning his historie at the preaching & testimonie of Iohn the Baptist, as also the other three Euangelistes did. From the 19. ver. vnto the 35 And hee teacheth of what maner were his testimo­nies, priuate, publike, and giuen to the ve­rie messengers of Ierusalem, all verely of one kinde, namely such as taught, that Iesus Christ is true God and man, sente into the worlde for sinners, to saue them which beleeue in him, & that therefore we must beleeue in Christ. In the 35.36. & 37. ver. Therefore doth he also send his Disciples vnto him, and consecrateth them to Christ the Lord, shewing vndoubtedly by the very deede it selfe, that all his doctrine tendeth here vn­to, that wee may beleeue Christ the onely Sauiour of all the world. Why the E­uangelist briefly finisheth the hi­story of the Baptist, and speedily commeth to the history of Christe him­selfe. And because the Baptist preached Christ only, & in him only sheweth all the points of godlinesse & life, passing ouer the matters of y ^e Baptist, Iohn the Euangeliste maketh hast to des­cribe the very matters of Christ, The 38.39 and 40 verses. and de­clareth first how he receiued them, which [Page] by the prouocation of Iohn the Baptist fo­lowed him: In the 41. ver also what the studies and workes of the faithfull be, namely to bring very many vnto Christ. From the 42. vers. vnto y ^e 51. There is briefly handeled the calling of certaine of the disciples, in whose examples we may learne, how men are called to the faith of the Gospell, and what maner of men they ought to bee, which must bee instructed in the doctrine of the Gospell. In the last verse. The Lorde instructeth his Disciples by words and signes. By plaine wordes, witnes­sing that hee is to them, which beleeue, the ladder and gate to a blessed life. The 2 chap. From the first ver. vnto y ^e 13. Furthermore hee sheweth a worthie signe at a marriage, turning water into wine, that by that deede hee might de­clare his power, that it is hee, which by his woorde can doe what hee will, that they may boldly leane vnto him, which trust in him. And these thinges did hee as it were priuately amongst his acquain­tance and familiar freendes. From the 13 ver. vnto the 18. But hee came not to be made knowen in some one place only to a fewe, but in all Iurie, yea and to all the worlde, therefore hee goeth to Hierusalem the chiefe citie and [Page] head of the countrey, and maketh him­selfe knowen to all men by a very great deede, and very fit for his purpose. For whereas hee was come into the worlde the king, and Priest, and Messias of all the faithfull in the worlde, and because it ap­pertained to the Messias to purge religi­on from corruption, and to deliuer his from tyrannie and superstition, hee went straight wayes into the holy temple, and cast foorth of it the buyers & sellers, pur­ging religion, and so shewing himselfe to bee the expected Messias. In the 18. ver▪ But the ru­lers of religiō tooke this thing very gree­uously, requiring a signe, whereby hee might proue, that he was hee, whome hee tooke vpon him to be. From the 19. ver. vnto the 22 Hee reasoneth of his death and resurrection, although somewhat closely. In the 22 ver And not a fewe be­leeued the Lorde, In y ^e 23. ver. but some againe clo­ked their faith, following rather y ^e corrupt affection of their minde, than the motion of the holy Ghost, In the 24. & 25. verses vnto whom the Lord would not therefore commit himselfe, be­cause hee was not ignorant of the coun­sels and cogitations of their heartes, and kept himselfe for better affayres. [Page] These thinges are handeled in the two first Chapters. What the E­uangelist trea­teth of. The Apostle doth dili­gently handle those thinges, which the Lorde Iesus spake and did in the begin­ning of his preaching, that he might so rightly informe the iudgemente of the Church, to think very wel of Christiā re­ligion, & of the principles therof, y ^e which, as els where often, so here also, are wont for the most part to bee very harde. What went before. Hee shewed last before, what Iesus did pub­likely and openly in the temple of God, and what he reasoned of among the com­mon people, what hee spake and did, What follow­eth. and now wil he shew a certaine priuate thing. The 3. chap. In the 1, 2. & 3. verses. For the Lord vseth priuate conference with Nicodemus a Doctour of the Law, The summe of the Lord his talke with Ni­codemus. whom he instructeth soundly, fully, and simply in the foundation, as they call it, and in the first principles, knitting toge­ther the whole method of sincere doctrin, and In the 3. verse. teaching, that he, which desireth to enter into the kingdome of God, must needes first be borne anewe. Because our nature and our first natiuitie hath in it self no light or life. From the 4, ver. vnto the 13 Moreouer y ^t this new birth consisteth in the renouation of the [Page] holy Ghost, by whose meanes he which is to be saued knoweth, that there is nothing in the strength of man, which can deserue iustification and blessed life, In the 13, 14, & 15. ver. that those things are prouided by an others deser­uing, namely by Iesus Christ, In the 16. verse. whom the grace & loue of God, & no desert of ours, gaue vnto vs, yea and gaue him to y ^e most shamefull death of y ^e crosse, that euery one, which beleeueth in him, should not perish, but should haue euerlasting life. From the 17. ver. vnto y ^e 22. There he teacheth that true faith in Christ wor­keth good woorkes: and contrarily that incredulitie and want of faith is y ^e cause of all vngodlinesse, yea of damnation it selfe. From the 22 verse vnto y ^e 26 These things being finished, the Apostle handeleth forthwith the question touching purifying, sprong vp after the matters be­fore goyng. From the 27 vers. vnto the end of the chap. By occasion whereof hee reporteth the fift and most plaine testimo­nie of Iohn the Baptist, whereby hee wit­nesseth, that the faithfull are fully purged through the grace of Christ. And that he is the true Messias, in whom the Father hath giuen to the world, whatsoeuer appertay­neth to true saluation, and that therefore they which beleeue in Christ are saued, & [Page] contrarily that they which beleeue not are damned. What follow­eth. Vnto these things he knitteth, by a marueilous & a most wise deuise, an other, and a new conference, and the same priuate also, betweene the Lorde and a woman of Samaria. What went before. He receiued and in­structed in the third chapter Nicodemus, a famous man, a Iewe, learned, and a man of holinesse not to be despised: The matter cōtained in the 4. chap. but now he receiueth & instructeth an obscure woman, a Gentile, vnlearned, and verye greately defiled with heynous faultes, to this ende, least any shoulde gather by the former example, that the Lorde came in­to the worlde to saue the godlie onelie. For hereby we do vnderstand, that he was borne to saue sinners also, and that not on­ly the Iewes, but the Gentiles also, yea and the very Samaritanes. The conferēce hath in it much pleasātnesse & sweetnesse. The Lorde insinuateth himselfe into the minde of the sinfull woman merueilously: notwithstāding he goeth about 2. thinges chiefly. The 4. chap. From the 1. ver vnto the 20 First he sheweth, that he is the fountayne of goodnesse, and of all gra­ces, of the whiche whosoeuer drinke, may bee moste plentifully satisfied. In the 20.21, and 22, verses. Then [Page] hauing confuted the false woorshipping of GOD, In the 23. and 24, verses. hee teacheth which is the true woorshipping: In the 15, 26 & 27. verses. and therewithall he pro­fesseth by a most manifest confession, that hee is the true Messias. In the 28, 29, & 30. ver. Foorthwith the sinfull woman becommeth a preacher of the grace of GOD. For shee calleth foorth the Sycharenes or Sychimites to meete the Lorde the king or the Messias. From the 31 ver vnto the 39 The meane while the Lord disputeth a­mong his disciples of the calling of the Gentiles & of y ^e Apostleship to y ^e Gētiles. From the 39. ver vnto the 43 Verily the Samaritanes receiue y ^e Lord. In y ^e 43, 44, & 45. verses. But the Iewes, especially y ^e citizēs of y ^e towne of Nazareth, do despise & cast him off: From the 46 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. Wherwith the Lord is so little offen­ded, y ^t he is nothing at all lesse bountifull vnto the euill deseruing Iewes. For go­ing to Cana a citie of Galilee, he resto­reth to health the seruant of a certayne ru­ler beeing at the very poynt of death, pro­uing by that woorthie deede, that hee can saue their life, whiche put their trust in him, beeyng the authour of life and of all goodnesse. What went before. The notable instruc­tions and disputations of Christ the Lord in true Christian religion hitherto had [Page] with Nicodemus and the woman of Sa­maria, were as it were priuate. What follow­eth. In the two next chapters follow publike bene­fites of the same Christ our Lorde, which minister occasion of publike disputations, verye notable, the which disputations doe handle the same, that is to say, the greatest pointes of our faith. The 5. cha. From the 1 ver. vnto the 10 The one benefite he doeth to a man beyng pitifully afflicted many yeres with a most greeuous disease, whō he healeth most louingly. From the 10 ver. vnto the 17 But be­cause he had done this vpon the Sabboth day, the Pharisees sclaunder the benefite, and accuse the benefactor of breaking the sabboth. In the 17. ver The Lorde defending his owne cause, sheweth, as it were by the example of his father the eternal God, that he brake not the Sabboth. In the 18. ver. Forth of the which an­swere they pike a new matter of accusatiō laying vnto the Lorde his charge y ^e crime of treason against God, and of blasphemie against God. From the 19. ver. vnto the 40 Whervpon he prooueth by many, and the same most liuely and most e­uident arguments, that God is his father, and that he is the sonne of God by nature, and equall with the father in all things, be­ing the true, the liuing, and eternall God. [Page] From the 40. verse vnto the 44. Notwithstanding in the end of his de­monstration he falleth to chide or to expo­stulate the matter with the Iewes, In the 44 verse. and he openeth the causes of mans infidelitie and treacherie, namely the desire of glo­rie, of riches, and of pleasure, In the 45, 46, & 47 ver. ioyning hereunto fearefull threatninges, that God the reuenger will once vndoubtedly most sharpely punishe them. The 6. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto the 14 The other be­nefite is most publike. For hee maketh a marueilous, and a verie kinglike feast, vnto certayne thousandes of men in the wildernesse, declaring thereby most ma­nifestly, that he is that sonne to be honou­red of the blessed GOD, by whose ver­tue and prouidence all liuing thinges are fedde and nourished. In the 14. verse. Nowe the peo­ple not vnderstanding the iust ende of so great a benefite, according to their grossenesse, are willing to create the Lorde the king of Israel. In the 15. ver But the Lorde, whiche was not come to raigne in humilitie, vppon the earth, or in the countreye of the Iewes onelie, or to receiue a kingdome of men, but to bee a king, crowned by GOD the Father him selfe, glorious, hea­uenlye, [Page] in heauen and in all the earth together, and of all creatures visible and inuisible, departeth▪ and hi­deth him selfe in a mountayne alone. In the 16, 17 and 18. ver. The disciples, not knowing where the Lorde laye hidde, or whether hee was fledde, goe by shippe to Capernaum: In the 19. ver. Whom the Lorde following walked vppon the waues of the Sea, as vppon the mayne lande, In the 20, 21. ver. and holpe them being in perill in the lake, The vse of the myracle. setting foorth vnto them by this proofe his diuine power. In the 22, 23 & 24. ver. The nexte day the common people fol­lowe him also in shippes, In the 25. verse. ministring occasion vnto him by their woordes, to reason openlie in the schoole of Caperna­um touching the abridgement and summe of our religion, From the 26 ver vnto the 30 namelie that hee is the true sonne of GOD, sent downe from heauen from the father, to giue life vnto al mankinde, and to conserue them in life, in that hee was incarnate for vs, in that hee offered his fleshe and his blood vnto the death for vs, that euery one, whiche beleeueth in him, maye haue life euer­lasting. From the 30 ver. vnto y ^e 34 And hee proposeth this chiefe mysterye of our faith by the continuall [Page] similitude of bread or meate, and of drinke, of eating and also of drinking, beeyng hidde in an allegorie, that both spirituall thinges might more rightlye bee conceiued by the similitude of bodi­ly thinges, and also that they might the more firmely sticke in the mindes of men. In the 34 verse. But when as the Capernaites vnderstood these thinges the wrong way and grossely, From the 35. ver. vnto the 66. the Lorde expoundeth him selfe moste clearely, declaring plain­ly, what hee meant by that kynde of speache. In the 66. verse. And when as not a fewe forsooke him, In the 67. verse. hee asketh those his dis­ciples, whom hee had called to the office of Apostleshippe, whether they also pur­posed to forsake him. From the 68 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. But blessed Peter in the behalfe of all the Apostles made a right confession in all poyntes, and comprehending all the summe of a true fayth, leauing it to the Churche, that shee also in all troubles and he­resies maye so goe on to confesse Christ. A briefe re­hearsall of the summe of the 2. last chap. Thou hast therefore in these two last chapters, two miracles, the thirde and fourth, whiche Iesus did, and whiche Iohn hath described: also [Page] two chiefe poyntes of our faith, moste copiously and learnedly handeled, both that Iesus is true GOD, of one sub­staunce with the Father, and also that the same Iesus is true man, the foode of the soule, and the conseruation and life of euerye parte of euerie man whiche trusteth in him with a true faith. What went before. Iohn hath hitherto plainely sette foorth the abridgement, summe, and scope of all the doctrine of the Gospell, What follow­eth. and nowe doeth hee ioyne heereunto cer­tayne peculiar poyntes touching the doc­trine and doctors of the Gospell, The 7. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto the 14 What their duetie is: In the 14, 15, & 16. vers. what their doc­trine ought to bee: In the 17, and 18. ver. how doctrines may bee prooued and knowen, whether they bee of GOD: From the 19 ver. vnto the 25 that Christ the Lorde committed none offence against the do­ctrine of the lawe: In the 25, 26 & 27. verses. also howe the doctrine of the trueth beeyng published is receiued of the worlde, and howe great troubles are raysed for the Go­spell, whilest the worlde goeth about to oppresse and cut of the Gospell, by hands, by threatninges, and by murder. From the 28. ver. vnto the 33 And yet in these troubles the Lorde goeth on [Page] notwithstanding with a bolde courage, bearing witnesse with the trueth, From the 33 ver. vnto the 37 admonishing also what euilles are kept in store for the despisers of the Gospel, In the 37, 38, and 39, verses. and inculcating the same kynde of doctrine continuallye, to witte, from whence saluation commeth, euen from the onelye Sonne of GOD, if wee beleeue in him, and what the force of faith is. In the 40, & 41. verses. As the godlye doe with greate desire receyue and imbrace this doctrine, In y ^e 41, 42, & 43. verses. so are the wicked more and more incensed thereby, indeuouring with tauntes to deface it, and by all meanes to oppresse it, From the 44 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. but the power of God is not ouercome of the weake­nesse of men, whiche without GOD al­wayes commeth to nothing, and vanisheth awaye mocked and shamefully confoun­ded. The 8. chap. From the 1 ver. vnto the 12 After these thinges Iohn put­teth downe a notable example of the good­nesse and mercie of GOD, whereby we maye vnderstande, howe Iesus is the fountayne of the water of life, watering the thirstie to euerlasting life. In the 1 [...]. ver. Againe vnder the couer of a certayne other simi­litude, comprehending the summe of soūd [Page] doctrine, hee teacheth, that hee is the light and Sauiour of all the worlde: In the 13, 19 22, & 25. ver. whiche doctrine of the truth the braw­ling Iewes indeuouring to pollute, ca­uill muche. From the 14 ver. vnto the 31 But the Lorde doeth maynetayne and confirme the sayde do­ctrine grauely and firmely, In the 21 vir denoun­cing punishment to the contentious, In the 14, and 15 ver Also in the 19, and 22. ver. opening with all the causes of contenti­on and of errour, From the 14. ver. vnto the 31 and declaring often times most clearely that hee is the Sa­uiour of the worlde, whiche can saue them, that beleeue in him, and whiche can condemne them that beleeue not in him: that his doctrine is certayne, and infallible, the whiche by repeating often times hee doeth inculcate. For this must be retayned firmely in all con­tentions.

In the 31, & 32. verses.Moreouer he instructeth more fully the faithfull and holy, whiche beleeued him, what they shoulde doe, howe they ought to continue in the knowen trueth, and what the freedome of the Sonnes of GOD is. From the 33 ver. vnto the 48 Hee confuteth againe the wicked bragging of the Iewes, boasting themselues to bee the sonnes of God, and [Page] the seede of Abraham. In the 39 ver For the Lord teacheth, who bee the true sonnes of A­braham, In the 42, & 43. ver. what the disposition of the sonnes of GOD, In the 44, & 45. vers. and of the Deuill is, also what the drift and woorkes of the deuill are, In the 46, & 47. verses. and that the hearing of God his woorde is the moste euident marke of the Sonnes of GOD. In the 48 ve The Iewes receiue this faithfull and nota­ble disputation of the Lorde with tauntes, In the 49, 50, & 51. ver. vnto whome the Lorde proposeth a newe the summe of the true and sounde doctrine, namely that the saluation and the life of the worlde is not obtayned, but onely by fayth in Iesus Christ, From the 52 verse vnto the 57. yea and that Abraham him selfe liued by fayth in Iesus Christ the Sonne of GOD. From the 57 vers. vnto the end of the chap. At the whiche doctrine, as at ex­treame blasphemye, they beeyng stir­red vp, catche vp stones, to punishe for­sooth y ^e blasphemer: but he withdrew him selfe forth of the troublesome company. A necessary point of doc­trine to be lear­ned in these 2. chap. Nowe this whole disputation of these two chapters doe furnishe vs with a moste beautifull example of a thing moste ne­cessarye, namely howe wee ought in all troubles, persecutions, threatnings, dispu­tations, bralles, reproches, and tauntes [Page] of this worlde, to haue an eye onelye to Christe, and to the infallible worde of his Gospell, as to the onelye shippe-mans starre in the tempestuous Sea, and to continue faithfull in him moste constant­ly. What follow­eth. The Apostle describeth moste plentifullye and moste elegantly heere­after the fifte miracle of the Lorde, or benefite bestowed vpon a certayne blinde man. The vse of the myracle. Whereby the Lorde Iesus as by a liuely deede, confirmeth and declareth that, whiche hee lately pro­posed to all the people in the temple, namely, that hee is the light of the world, whiche came to lighten and quicken all beleeuers. The 9. chap. From the 1. ver. vnto the 8. For nowe by giuing sight to him that was borne blinde, he sig­nifieth and prooueth manifestly by the thing it selfe, that hee is the giuer of light. In the 39, 40, & 41. vers. Yea a little before the ende of the hi­storie, extending this his deede moste largely to all men, hee addeth: I am come vnto iudgement in this worlde, that they whiche see not, might see: and that they whiche see, might bee made blinde: which is as it were the state, where vnto wee maye referre the [Page] whole historie. From the 8. ver. vnto the 35 The meane whyle, as vppon a certayne stage, is sette foorth to the shewe, a sharpe contention of the godly and vngodlye, about the mat­ter of religion, and the trueth of the confession of the Gospell. In the 13, 15 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 26, 28, 29 34, & 40 vers. Heere are also paynted foorth the manners and dis­positions, not onely of the enimies of the woorde of GOD, In the 9, 11, 12, 15, 17.20 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, & 33, verses. but of simple Christians also, whose duetie, francke confession, In the 36. & 38. verses and increase of fayth are heere described. The applicati­on of the historie before goyng. Therefore thou shalt see, as in a certayne liuely picture, the counsels and indeauours of the wicked, whereby they persecute the trueth, dar­ken it, and indeuour to oppresse it. Thou shalt see their maruellous slinesse, their wrath, and enuie not to bee pacified, and their extreeme crueltie. Thou shalte see agayne y ^e faithfulnes, simplicitie, sinceri­tie, patience, constancie, and trueth con­quering in all thinges, which alwayes ouercommeth by giuing place. The 10. cha. From the 1. verse vnto the 19. After these thinges hee accuseth great­lie the blynde and vnfaithfull shep­heardes of the people of the Iewes: and with all hee sheweth, that hee is that [Page] true shephearde, whiche quickeneth his sheepe with his death, redeemeth them by his power and care from all euilles, and refresheth them with wholesome foode. And in these thinges he setteth foorth the example of the best shephearde for all faithfull shepheardes, instruc­ting them what becommeth them, and what their duetie is: but chiefly hee inculcateth that, whiche hee vseth to vrge euerye where, that hee is the Sa­uiour of the worlde, whiche giueth life to the faithfull through his death. In the 19, 20 & 21. ver. But there riseth a newe businesse and a newe dissention about this doctrine, some wilfully cauellyng at the proposed truth, and other no whitte the lesse mayntay­ning and defending the same. In the 22, 23, & 24, ver. In the feast of the dedication the aduer­saries propose a question to the Lorde, whereby they might take a newe occa­sion to cauill. They demaunde: whe­ther hee bee Christe, that blessed sonne of almightie GOD, that is to say, the Messias? and if hee bee, that hee woulde confesse it openlye, plainely, and [Page] manifestly. From the 25 ver. vnto the 31 Therefore the Lorde Ie­sus professeth, and not onelye professeth, but also prooueth, that hee is Christe the blessed, the sonne of the blessed God. In the 31 ver. By the whiche profession they beeyng rather prouoked, then instructed, are willing to stone Iesus as a blasphemer. From the 32 ver. vnto the 39 But hee reasoning friendly with them, sheweth that hee is the sonne of GOD in deede, and that hee sinned not at all a­gainst the maiestie of his father. In the 39, & 40. vers. But because no reasons can preuayle with the grosse, inflexible, and blinde aduersa­ries, leauing them agayne, and passing o­uer Iordane, he returned vnto that place, where Iohn first beganne to baptise. In the 41 ver There he found not a few obedient sheep. In the last ver For manie beleeued on Iesus there. What wēt be­fore & what fol­loweth. Hetherto wee haue hearde greate and di­uine thinges, and yet there follow after a sorte greater and more diuine thinges, The 11. cha. From the 1. ver vnto the 46 and before all the rest, the raysing a­gayne by Christe of Lazarus, hauing layne nowe foure dayes in the graue and stinking. Why Christ wrought this myracle. The last day of Christe the Lorde approched, wherein he offered [Page] him selfe, for the saluation of men, to GOD the father, to bee an odour of a good smelling sauour. And the nea­rer hee drewe vnto his death, the more plainelye doeth the force and fruite of the Lorde his death shewe it selfe. What we may learne by this myracle. Certaynelie the Lorde sheweth moste manifestlie by this his sixte last signe or miracle, that hee is the life of all the worlde, who although hee dyed vppon the crosse, yet can hee saue the soules of the faithfull in death, and rayse vp the dead. And because this thing is harde to bee beleued of fleshe and mans reason, this historie is handeled both plentifully, and exactly, yea and euidently, so that thou maiest thinke, that thou beholdest all thinges with viewe of eye. In the meane season in Martha and Marye wee are taught, what manner of faith ours ought to bee. And the myndes of the Godlye are confirmed through all the historye agaynst the feare of death, the offence of the Crosse is mit­tigated and vtterlie taken awaye, From the 46 ver. vnto the end of the chapter. and the cause of the hatred and enuie [Page] of the Priestes or Senatours of the people of Israel is declared, where­with they beeing blinded consulte to kill Christe. That consultation is touched in fewe, but yet in euident words. The 12. cha. In the 1, 2, 3, and 4. ver. Now heereunto pertaineth the feast solemnised in Bethanie, From the 5. ver. vnto the 12 in the description whereof, the cause is shewed whereby Iudas being moued, purposed to sell and betray Iesus to the Priestes. The Euange­lists purpose in the rest, which followeth. In those things, whiche followe, Iohn handeleth those matters, whereby the glory and vertue of Christe appeared & shone oftentimes most cleere­ly to the people of Israel: From the 12. ver. vnto the 19 & first, where as he entred into the citie w ^t regal pompe, hee declareth, that he is the king & the de­liuerer of the people of God, whome the Prophetes foreshewed to come. In the 19. ver This, greeued the Pharisees, who beeing ouer­whelmed with the greatnesse, power, and euidencie of Christ his doings, are cōstrai­ned to despaire of their owne matters. In the 20, 21 & 22. ver. Hereunto this also is added, y ^t the Greekes or Gentiles came to Ierusalem from coū ­tries very farre distant to see and salute Iesus. From the 23. ver. vnto the 27 Whereby y ^e Lord taketh occasiō to speake of his death, of the fruite there­of, [Page] and of the great and farre exceeding glory following his death immediately. In the 27, and 28, ver. Also he prayeth, that the father would set foorth his glory. In the 28 and 29 ver. An oracle is giuen from heauen answering to the prayers of the Lorde. From the 30 ver. vnto the 34. Therevpon the Lorde teacheth agayne most cleerely, what fruite shall come vnto the faithfull through his death. In the 34, verse. Nowe when the people here upon moued a question, tou­ching the eternitie of the Messias, In the 35, and 36. ver. Hee exhorteth them to faith. In the 37. verse. The Iewes notwithstanding continue in their vnbe­liefe, From the 38. ver. vnto y ^e 44. the which thing Iohn proueth that Esaias foreshewed. Frō the 44. verse vnto the end of the chap. But to con­firme the weake in faith, the Lord maketh a most vehement Sermon, wherein hee gathereth a briefe rehearsall of his doc­trine, hytherto publikely proposed. What went before. S. Iohn hitherto hath set foorth those things, which the Lorde spake and did, priuately and publikely, before his Passion, among those which were familiar with him, and in the presence of all the common peo­ple, as well by disputing as by preaching, both maintaining and deliuering to the Church the most full and perfect doctrine [Page] of the Gospell: What follo­weth. but in those thinges, which followe, hee describeth certaine se­crete and mysticall, as well sayings as do­ings of the Lorde, which hee spake and did, in that his last and mysticall Supper, before his Disciples. Heere all thinges burne and glitter with a certaine diuine brightnesse. For heere all the mysteries of our faith, and of the kingdome of God are proposed and opened, and the most daintie banket of the soule and spirite, is most liberally furnished and set foorth by the Sonne of God himself to the Church, so that the faithfull hearer diligently con­sidering these things, may seeme to heare not a humane, but a very diuine voyce, and not to be at any earthly supper, but being admitted into heauē it selfe, to bee a guest at God his table. Notwithstāding passing ouer those thinges, which the other three Euangelists handeled both diligently and plētifully touching this last supper, Iohn setteth foorth most fully those thinges, which hytherto were not committed to writing, least the Church of Christ should want any thing, but that it might haue a moste full Historie of the affayres [Page] of her Sauiour. The 13. cha. In the first verse. Therefore in the be­ginning speaking somewhat in maner of a Preface, From the 2 ver. vnto the 12 hee bringeth in foorthwith the Lorde washing the Disciples feete, From the 12. ver. vnto the 18. and commending by that deede, with cer­taine wordes added thereunto, both humi­litie, and the duties of charitie, expoun­ding also the effect or fruite of his passion. From the 18 verse vnto the 30. After these things is placed a diligent and profitable disputation of Iudas his treason. In the 30. ver When as Iudas was de­parted foorth of the holy banket of the ho­ly Apostles, that hee might gather togea­ther cutters, which might take Iesus, In the 31, & 32. verses. Iesus vnderstood that his last houre now approched, he seeth also that his disciples, beeing oppressed with great sorowe, are diuersly tempted and greeued, Frō the 33. verse vnto the end of the chap. there­fore hee maketh a worthie oration vnto them with great deliberation, that hee might thereby comforte his Disciples, and admonishe them and fully instruct them in all his matters. For this are they wont to doe, which are at the point of death, namely to cōfort theirs, to instruct thē in diuers thinges, & grauely to warne them. For in suche manner the Lorde [Page] maketh a large and a most profitable ora­tion vnto his Disciples heere put downe in writing vnto the 17. Chapter, which for the more plainenesse wee haue deuided into two partes. The former part is comprehended in the latter end of the From the 33 verse 13 Chapter, and in the 14. Chapter through­out. The latter part is contained in the 15. and 16. Chapters. But the Orati­on or Sermon of the Lorde is diuers, nei­ther is it referred to any one, and certaine marke, except thou respect consolation & instruction. For all thinges tend here­vnto, that the Disciples of Christe be not troubled, and that they may vnderstande the mysteries of Christe, and know what they shoulde doe. In the 31, 32 and 33. verses of the 13. chap­ter. And first hee in­treateth of his death, which because it see­med vnto the worlde to bee shamefull and infamous, hee teacheth, that both the father and the sonne is glorified through his death. In the 34. & 35. ver. Then because he must leaue them, least they shoulde bee igno­rant howe to behaue themselues, and what lawes they shoulde keepe one with another, hee doth not ouercharge them with many prescriptions, but commen­deth [Page] vnto them charitie only. In the 36. & 37. ver. Not­withstanding heere the Lordes talke is broken of a litle, through the bolde bragge of Saint Peter, In the 36.37, & 38. ver. which the Lorde cooling, goeth forwarde in his pur­pose, The 14. cha. In the 1 ver. and professeth openly that hee is very God, that hee may stay vp the faith of his Disciples, wherein is the su­rest foundation of comfort. From the 2. ver. vnto the 8. He ad­deth that hee therefore departeth hence and dyeth, that hee may open the way for vs into heauen. From the 8, ver. vnto the 15 Afterwardes he sheweth Philip and the rest more fully, that hee is in all thinges coequall and of one substance with the Father: yea and that the Father cannot be knowen but by the Sonne. In the 15. ver And nowe also hee exhorteth them to keepe his com­maundements faithfully: In the .16 and 17. verses. and pro­miseth an other comforter. From the 18. ver. vnto the 25 More­ouer hee vseth many reasons, where­by hee may both comfort their sorowe­full mindes, & stirre them vp to the vehe­mente studie of godlidesse. From the 25 ver. vnto the 30 And heereupon hee reasoneth more plenti­fully of the comforter, or holy Ghost, In the 30 and 31, ver. and saith most plainely that he must [Page] shortly be deliuered into the handes of sinnefull men: but yet so that the world shoulde bee saued thereby. What went before. Hauing finished the former part of the Lorde Ie­sus Oration made after the Supper vnto his beloued Disciples, What follow­eth. wee come nowe to the latter part, which seemeth to bee spoken in the iourney towarde the mount of Oliues, and is comprehended in the 15. and 16. Chapters. How this which foloweth, agreeth with that which went before. And it agreeth with those thinges, which went before in this maner: The Lorde had oftentimes saide, that hee must departe foorth of this worlde to the Father, the meane while least the Disciples shoulde suppose, that they shoulde vtterly bee forsaken, hee added, that hee with the fa­ther and the holy Ghost woulde come vn­to them, and abide with them, if they con­tinue in keeping his preceptes. The 15 cha. From the 1. ver. vnto the 9. Now as it were repeating y ^e same thing, & after a sort inlarging the same by bring­ing in the most elegant similitude of the vine & of the branches, he reasoneth most plainely of his remaining, that I may so tearme it, or of his presence in the [Page] Church, yea and of the true Communion of Christe and his Saintes, I meane, in that hee remaineth wholy in vs, by his spirite, by his power, and by his euident operation, if wee by faith and by loue re­maine in him. From the 9. vers. vnto 14. And verily for this cause he intreateth more copiously of bro­therly loue. In the 14, & 15. verses. And by the way he rea­soneth of the worthinesse of the faithfull, whome hee calleth friendes, and not ser­uants. In the 16. ver Againe least they should be proude, he addeth, that this is bestowed vp­on them through the free election of God, which hath chosen them, that they may go and bring foorth plentifull fruite. From the 17 ver. vnto y ^e 26. But the Disciples began foorthwith to feele, what perilles they shoulde bee in, and therefore were they not a little afraide of themselues. The Lorde therefore con­firming their mindes, reasoneth much and diuersly of the crosse and of suffering, In the 26 and 27, ver. and promiseth again the comforter, which shoulde stirre them vp, incourage, and confirme them in troubles & persecutions. The 16. cha. From the 1. ver. vnto the 16▪ Moreouer, hee disputeth with muche profite many things concerning y ^e effects and strength of the comforter, shewing [Page] howe the holy ghost being giuen shoulde recompence his corporall presence, which after his death shoulde be no whitte at all profitable vpon earth, howe by him he woulde prepare his Church in the world, and raigne in it. From the 16 ver. vnto y ^e 20. And yet doth he agayne put them in remembraunce that hee must first die, In the 20 ver. and that herevpon his disciples shoulde be oppressed with great sorowe: whom forthwith raysing vp againe by cō ­forting them, he assureth them y ^t their sor­rowe shall not be long: but that the ioy, which shall rise of his resurrection, and fo­lowe their sorrow, shall be euerlasting. In the 21, and 22, ver. And this doth he declare by the similitude of a woman trauailing. From the 23 ver. vnto y ^e 28. Moreouer least they shoulde bee ouermuche sorrowefull through the departing of his bodie into heauen, hee promiseth his disciples, that he will teach them all the secretes of the kingdome of God by his spirite, and that hee will giue them whatsoeuer they shall aske in his name, that is to say, in the name of Christ: In the 28 verse. and with all he gathe­reth into a briefe summe the whole matter of our redemption, desiring to fasten this deepe in their hearts. In the 29 & 30 verses. The which things [Page] when as the disciples receiued with great reioycing, and commended, professing, that they did now beleeue, and plainly vn­derstand, that he was the sonne of God, In the 31, and 32 ver. he fortelleth them, that they shall forthwith forsake him, and euery one prouide for him selfe by fliyng away. In the last ver. And in the end, con­cluding his whole talke continued hither­to from the thirtienth Chapter, and signi­fiyng whereunto all things must be appli­ed, hee saith: These wordes haue I spoken vnto you, that in mee you might haue peace, for in the worlde yee haue tribu­lation: but bee of good cheare, I haue ouercome the worlde. What went before & what foloweth. After that our Lorde Iesus Christ had partlie comforted his disciples by these verie diuine sermōs, and partly informed and instructed them against the storme of euilles imminent, because he had purposely warned them, that they must not put their trust in any humane thinges, but in the helpe of God, he doth moreouer teach by his owne ex­ample, that in their afflictions the looke no whither els, but to the Father of heauē. From the 1. ver. vnto the 6. The 17. cha. Now therefore preparing him selfe to [Page] suffer his passion, he beginneth it with making his prayers vnto the father, vnto whom first hee commendeth himselfe, From the 6, ver. vnto the 20 then his Apostles, From the 20 ver. vnto the end of the chap. lastly all, whiche beleeue the doctrine of the Apostles, be­seeching him, that hee woulde glorifie him, and that hee woulde guide the Apo­stles, and the Churche of the faythfull, through this most vnpure worlde, in the studie of the trueth, of godlinesse, and of charitie, and that he woulde ioyne them vnto him for euer. The 18. cha. In the 1. Hauing finish­ed his prayer, he goeth vnto the mount of Oliues, entring into a garden, where hee might commende him selfe agayne to God by his prayers. In the 2. & 3. verses. The meane while trayterous Iudas had gathered to­gither a bande of most wicked varlettes, and approcheth the innocent. From the 4. ver. vnto y ^e 10. The Lord, that he might shewe that hee suffered of his owne accorde and willingly, and that he was omnipotent, although hee suffered him selfe to bee chayned, ouerthrow­eth often times the bande in the graden, and afterwardes committeth hym selfe voluntarily vnto the wicked to be bound. [Page] In the 10, and 11 verses. There Peter fighteth vnhappily enough, and was rebuked of his maister. In the 12.13 and 14 ver. They bring the Lorde foorthwith to Annas the high priest, and from him to Caiphas, be­cause he was placed that yere in the chiefe dignitie of priesthood. In the 19 ver Inquisition is made touching the doctrine of Iesus, In the 20, and 21, ver. and whilest he went about to answere, In the 22.23, & 24 ver. he is most vnworthily beaten of a seruant of the high priests. In the 15, 16 17, and 18. verses, also in the 25, 26, and 27. verses. Whilest these things were in doing, Peter denieth & abiureth the Lorde most shamefully. In the 28, verse. Christe is lead from the high priestes court straight wayes vnto the deputies common hall of iudgement, because he seemed worthie of death. From the 29 ver. vnto the 38 He is accused before Pilate, and the chiefe pointes of the accusation are discus­sed, In the 38. and 39 verses. but Pilate finding no fault in him, goeth about by cunning too set him at li­bertie. In the last ver. Which when it fell out vnlucke­ly, The 19. chap From the 1 ver. vnto the 6. he bringeth him torne with whips, and crowned with a crowne of thornes, foorth vnto the common people a beast of many heades. In the 6. ver. They crie out together, that he may be crucified. From the 7, ver. vnto the 12 But Pilate in­quiring of many things, From the 12 ver. vnto y ^e 16 yet at the last o­uercome with the wicked outcries of the [Page] Iewes, In the 16 ver deliuereth Iesus to be crucified. He is receiued of the souldiers, In the 17 ver. and led foorth into a place named of dead mens skulles vnto execution. In the 18 ver▪ There is he lif­ted vp vpon a crosse in y ^e middest betweene two theeues. From the 19 ver. vnto the 23 The title or cause of his death is put vpon the crosse by Pilate not without great reasoning and controuer­sie. In the 23, and 24, ver. Moreouer the souldiers parte the Lordes garmentes, and cast lottes for his coate, which was without seame, vnder the crosse. In the 25, 26, & 27 ver. The Lorde from the crosse com­mitteth his mother to Iohn: In the 28 ver Hee thirst­eth, In the 29 ver and refuseth to drinke vineger offe­red him in a sponge, In the 30 ver. and witnessing ho­lily that all things were finished, and that the sacrifice was perfect, hee gaue vp his ghost to God the father. In the 31, and 32 ver. Afterwardes the legges of the theeues are broken, In the 33▪ and 34. ver. Iesus his side is opened, blood and water guisheth out of it. In the 35, 36 & 37 ver. Iohn which sawe it, doth holily witnesse the truth, From the 38 ver. vnto the end of the chap. And last­ly come godly & deuout men, whiche take downe the dead bodie of the Lorde from the crosse, and spice it most honestly, and burie it. What follow­eth, Iohn, in this last part of his Go­spell, rekoneth vp, with great trust and di­ligence, [Page] the most manifest testimonies and proofes of the glorious resurrection from the dead of our Lord Iesus Christ, where­by he sheweth fully and plainely, that hee rose againe frō the dead truely w ^t his true & liuely body. He was not very carefull touching the maner of the resurrection, & concerning the natural order of the reue­lations. For he sawe that the other Euan­gelists had plentifully handled & plainely enough set y ^e forth therfore he setteth forth the most chosen proofes: The 20. cha. In the 1 ver. and from the 11. vnto the 18 And in the be­ginning he sheweth, howe hee shewed him self aliue to Marie Magdalen. For Marke also saith: Marke chap. 16 ver. 9. When Iesus was risen early, the first day after the Sabboth, he appea­red first to Marie Magdalen, out of whō he had cast seuen deuils. In the 2 and 18 verse. Nowe shee de­clareth to the apostles forthwith what she had seene: From the 3 ver. vnto the 11 two of the whiche running to the sepulchre, finde by certaine signes & tokens, y ^t shee had reported no vaine mat­ter. In the 19 and 20. verses. Now the Lord himselfe, being wil­ling to shewe manifestly his manifest re­surrection to the ten disciples gathered to­gether, commeth into the middest of them, & sheweth them openly his hands and side [Page] marked with the prints of y ^e wounds, pro­uing so the trueth of his true resurrectiō. In the 21, 22. & 23 ver. Forthwith he committeth and inioyneth y ^e apostles the ministerie of preaching sal­uation & redemption, putting thē in trust with the kayes of the kingdome of heauē. In the 24. ver Whē these thinges were in doing, y ^e rest of y ^e disciples being assēbled in one place, Thomas onely was away, In the 25 ver vnto whom returning shortly afterwardes, y ^e disciples reioycing greatly, report y ^t they had seene the Lord. He suspecting that they had bin deluded by some phantasme, denieth, y ^t hee will beleeue, except he beholde the body of Iesus openly with his owne eyes, yea and handeling it with his handes, touche the truth of his body. In the 26. & and 27. verses Therefore after eight dayes, when as all y ^e eleuen disciples were come togither againe into one place, the Lord Iesus is present againe, and offereth himselfe most manifestly to Thomas, both to be beholden of his eyes, & to be handled of his hands, From the 28. verse vnto the end of the chap. who being ouercome with the euidencie & truth of the matter, crieth out, that hee doth nowe acknowledge and worship Christ for his Lord & God. Where these things were done. And these things were done in the very citie of [Page] Hierusalem, and about the verye graue of the Lord: the which although they might suffice fully to confirme the faith of the re­surrection, The 21. chap From the 1 ver. vnto the 15 yet doeth Iohn adde a cer­taine notable proofe, whereby he declared in Galilee, that he was risen from y ^e dead, by dyning also w ^t his disciples. For the Lord had promised, as well by his priuate promise, as by y ^e promises of Angels, that it shoulde come to passe, y ^t they shoulde see him in Galilee. In the 15, 16 and 17 ver. And vnto this reuelatiō Iohn ioyneth y ^e talke which y ^e Lord had w ^t Simō Peter immediatly after dinner, whō he restored to his ministerie, In the 18, & 19 verses. foretelling him his sorowfull destenie. Frō the 20 ver. vnto the 24 Peter mer­ueiling what should become of Iohn, hea­reth y ^t euery one ought to looke vnto his own calling. In the 24, & last verse of the chapter. Lastly Iohn, making a pro­testation, y ^t he hath described y ^e matters of our lord Iesus very faithfully, shutteth vp the historie of the truth of the Gospell.